During the long spring, residents enjoy a wide array of flowering shrubs, trees and perennials. And they put in the second act of their vegetable garden with warm-weather crops that promise a good harvest in summer. By June, summer is here, hot, humid and usually the most challenging season for gardeners. The green of Charlotte's extensive tree canopy is the dominant look, but in areas where sun slices through, gardeners enjoy roses and many kinds of perennials - day lilies are extremely popular. In the shade, hostas enjoy a wide following, along with traditional begonias and impatiens, which are with us until the weather freezes.
Vegetable gardeners tend several popular crops, including tomatoes, beans, peppers and melons.
All require close attention to watering during the inevitable weeks of drought. Soaker hoses and drip-irrigation systems are important tools for using water wisely. By August, the gardener is often weary and the lawn worn from weeks of heat and humidity. But what probably is the best season for gardeners is just ahead. September promises a new start, an ideal time for renewing the lawn, planting trees and shrubs and putting in spinach, leaf lettuce, kale, turnips and other crops that prosper through autumn.