Sonoma County June gardening with resilient and vibrant monkey flowers

Welcome to our gardening adventure. Let’s grow it together!

The bright-eyed monkey flower (genus Mimulus, but for this column, we will use its common name, monkey flower) is aptly named for its cute little monkey face set in vivid colors of orange, pink, red, yellow, ivory, wine, purple, and variegated. For hundreds of years, botanists have collected its seeds. In the 1830s, English botanist and explorer David Douglas gathered specimens of the plant and sent his collection back to the Horticultural Society of London with enthusiastic notes on the plant’s magnificence. British society embraced the plant, a beautiful addition to their gardens.

Resilience of the monkey flower

More recently, the monkey flower has come under the study of botanists, biologists, and scientists for its ability to mutate and withstand drought and unfriendly soil. Certain monkey flowers can adapt to locations where serpentine is present, and the soil has a high mineral content that many plants cannot tolerate. As we all know, in Sonoma County, clay soil is very common, and the plant has shown tolerance for that too. Today, gardeners appreciate monkey flowers for their hardiness, their ability to attract pollinators, and their vigorous show of colors all summer long.

Adding monkey flowers to your garden

You can pick up monkey flower plants at local garden centers such as Harmony or order them online. A couple of good choices are 'Peach Hybrid' and Mimulus 'Snow Angel,' which is exquisite in its creamy whiteness and quantity of blossoms. Some companion plants are penstemon, daisy, and catmint. You can also start them from seed indoors about ten weeks before the last spring frost. After planting in a seed-starting tray, cover with a clear plastic bag in the refrigerator to keep cool; or plant seeds in late winter and don't cover with soil as they need light to germinate.

Benefits of the monkey flower

All parts of the plant are edible, and the blossoms make a beautiful addition to desserts such as cakes and to decorate salads or use as a garnish.

The common buckeye butterfly needs the leaves of the monkey flower to lay their eggs on, which will provide an immediate food source when they hatch.

Besides their hardiness and drought tolerance, they thrive in both full sun and partial shade.

As a California native that the Pomo and Miwok historically used as a medicinal plant, the monkey flower adapts well to Sonoma County.

June planting guide

In June, sow seeds directly into the soil - beans, beets, cantaloupe, cilantro, corn, cucumbers, dill, leeks, pumpkin and other squash varieties, and watermelon. Transplant from starts – basil, chard, cucumbers, eggplant, lettuce, melons, parsley, peppers, and tomatoes.

Five essential June gardening tasks

With the rainfall in May, weeds have become prevalent. To prevent them from stealing water from your plants, remove them before they go to seed.

• Ensure your irrigation system is working efficiently and check for leaks.
• Thin fruit trees to reduce their water needs and encourage larger fruit production.
• Stake tomatoes and other plants that tend to droop or grow out of hand.
• Bamboo stakes and cages work well for keeping plants contained.
• Fertilize citrus trees.

Please email your gardening thoughts and questions to Val at cab.valery@gmail.com. Together, we can find solutions to our gardening needs and dreams