Rehoboth Garden Club

06/04/2026

06/04/2026

06/03/2026

What’s Blooming Wednesday: Peonies

It’s arguably the best time of the year! Peonies are beginning their spectacular display across our gardens. Known for their lush, oversized blossoms and sweet fragrance, these classic perennials are highly reliable but benefit from a little attention during their peak bloom period.

Peony Care Tips:
Provide Structural Support: Large, double-flowered varieties become incredibly top-heavy, especially after a spring rain. If you did not install a support ring early in the season, use bamboo stakes and garden twine to gently support the stems before the heavy blossoms pull them to the ground.

Peony Ants: It is common to see ants crawling on tight peony buds. They are simply feeding on the sugary nectar secreted by the plant and do no harm to the flowers. If you are cutting the blooms to bring indoors, a gentle upside-down shake or a quick dip in cool water will clear them away.

Post-Bloom Maintenance: Once the flowers fade, deadhead the spent heads by cutting the stem back to the first strong leaf. It is important to leave the remaining green foliage intact for the rest of the summer, as the leaves absorb the sunlight needed to fuel next year’s growth.

06/02/2026

June Garden To-Do List
Welcome to June! With the threat of frost (hopefully!) behind us, the gardening season is in full swing. Here are ways to keep your garden healthy and thriving this month:

* **Plant Warm-Weather Crops and Annuals:** It should be safe to plant tender annuals and warm-season vegetables like tomatoes, peppers, and squash directly into the ground.

* **Mulch and Conserve Moisture:** Apply a layer of organic mulch around your beds to help retain soil moisture and suppress the summer weeds that emerge as temperatures rise.


* **Care for Spring Bulbs:** Cut back the spent flower stalks of daffodils and tulips, but leave the green foliage intact until it turns completely yellow. The leaves are still absorbing energy to feed next year’s blooms.

* **Adjust Watering Habits:** Transition to deep, infrequent watering early in the morning rather than shallow daily misting. This encourages deeper root growth, which protects plants during upcoming dry spells.

Wishing everyone a productive and enjoyable month in the garden.

05/27/2026

What’s Blooming Wednesday: Irises
Irises are taking center stage this week! These spectacular perennials perfectly fill the “May bloom gap”—that transition period right after spring bulbs fade but before summer perennials kick into gear.
**Iris Fun Facts:**
* **There are around 300 unique species of iris and thousands of cultivated varieties in almost every color imaginable.

* **The oldest known variety still grown today is the classic purple *Iris germanica*, which dates back to ancient Rome and the Silk Road.

* **Want to grow native? Look for the **Northern Blue Flag** (*Iris versicolor*) and the **Slender Blue Flag** (*Iris prismatica*), both of which thrive in our local wet meadows and rain gardens.
**Quick Care Tip:**
For traditional bearded irises, make sure the top of the horizontal root (the rhizome) is left exposed to the sun and not buried under heavy mulch. Also, clear away dead leaves in the fall to prevent iris borer pests.

05/26/2026

Mark your calendars for the NGC Horticulture Specialty Flower Show on June 4th from 11-4 at Hattie Ide Chaffee. This show focuses on horticultural excellence- come see outstanding plant specimens and exceptional cultivars!

05/25/2026

Today, we honor and remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our country.
Wishing everyone a peaceful and meaningful Memorial Day!

05/20/2026

What’s Blooming Wednesday: Jack-in-the-Pulpit 🌿
Keep an eye out for one of our coolest native woodland plants: Jack-in-the-Pulpit!
This unique shade-lover features a striped, hood-like leaf (the “pulpit”) sheltering a central flower spike (“Jack”). Perfect for damp, shady spots, it actually relies on tiny fungus gnats rather than bees for pollination.
Have you spotted one yet?
Check your shady garden corners or local hiking trails!

05/18/2026

RGC members enjoyed a wonderful field trip to Kinney Azalea Garden in Kingstown, RI. The azaleas were in peak bloom, and were absolutely breathtaking!