The Unexpected Father’s Day Gift Grill Masters Will Love & More June Gardening Tips

The Green Thumb manager and horticulturalist Suzanne Barton shares a surprising Father’s Day gift from the garden, summer watering strategies and ways to help hanging plants thrive through the coastal heat.

Story by Alea Wilkins and Suzanne Barton

Key Points

● For a surprising Father’s Day gift idea, try Barbeque Rosemary that works as the seasoning and the skewer to grilled meats, veggies and more.
● Plants need at least one inch of water per week in the summer. Consider setting up a rain gauge, and schedule irrigation in the early morning.
● Ensure hanging baskets of flowers receive ample water and fertilizer, since the surrounding air can make them especially vulnerable to drought.

Flowers are the obvious choice for Mother’s Day, but dads deserve a gift from the garden too. For the grill master, The Green Thumb’s Suzanne Barton shares the perfect present to spice up summer cooking: Barbecue rosemary that works as both seasoning and skewer. Elsewhere in the garden, she reveals the common mistake that can cause plants to wilt and how to care for flowers in hanging baskets. This month a little extra love goes a long way.

Barbecue rosemary skewers in garden Father's Day gift — Barbecue rosemary pulls double duty in the backyard. Its sturdy, upright stems can be used as natural skewers, infusing grilled meats and vegetables with a subtle, herbaceous flavor while adding a fragrant touch to summer cookouts.

[LOCAL Life] What should I get my dad for Father’s Day?

[Suzanne Barton] Barbecue rosemary is such a fun gift for dads who love to grill. Its stems grow upward in sturdy, straight lines that can actually be used in place of ordinary wooden skewers. Spear your veggies or meat (I prefer lamb; with rosemary, it’s a match made in heaven). Lay them on the grill, and cook as usual. The rosemary adds such a lovely scent for backyard cookouts, and when you take a bite, that delicious, herbaceous flavor just sings. Plus, rosemary can deter pests like cabbage moths, carrot rust flies, slugs and snails.

[LL] I just bought some flowers in hanging baskets. What’s the best way to take care of them?

[SB] Hanging baskets of flowering annuals are a beautiful way to add colorful height to your garden, but they come with a unique set of challenges. Since the baskets are suspended in the air, the plants inside can’t escape the summer heat. Unlike in-ground plants, they can’t draw nutrients or water from surrounding soil. In this way, they’re kind of like a pet. The only way they can get water and food is from you, so tend to your hanging baskets with extra care.

Rain gauge in garden for summer watering — A rain gauge takes the guesswork out of watering. Gardens need about one inch of water per week, but it has to soak deep into the soil to reach the roots. Shallow watering leads to weak, surface-level roots that dry out fast in the Lowcountry heat.

[LL] I’m watering multiple times a week. Why are my plants still wilting?

[SB] Half the time, when folks have dry, wilting gardens, the issue isn’t how often they’re watering but how deep the water goes. In the summer your garden needs at least one inch of water per week, either from rain, irrigation or a combination of the two. If water isn’t soaking deep enough into the soil, your plants’ roots, instead of expanding downward into moist soil, will adjust to grow just beneath the surface where the water is breaking through. This can make your garden more susceptible to drought. All it takes is one 95-degree day for everything to become dry as a bone. To avoid this, consider setting up a rain gauge and scheduling your irrigation system to run first thing in the morning.

June birth flower: honeysuckle

Sweet, summery and a little sentimental, honeysuckle ushers in the new season while reminiscing on the past. As June’s birth flower, the plant symbolizes joy and romance. Its bright, conical blossoms appear in bursts like fireworks, evoking the magic that comes at the beginning of a new relationship. However, like an unforgettable summer fling, the plant also represents nostalgia, a wistfulness for first love that lingers in its gently drooping blooms.

Coral honeysuckle native to South Carolina June birth flower

In South Carolina coral honeysuckle is a native, noninvasive variety. Its vivid blossoms pair beautifully with other Lowcountry blooms like azalea and hibiscus, and its height adds drama and dimension to otherwise one- note gardens. With long, twisting vines, honeysuckle can grow on a trellis, tuteur or wall. According to Barton, this makes it ideal for covering up anything undesired. “They’re perfect for blocking things like electrical panels, outdoor showers or even a view of the neighbor’s yard,” she says. “Instead of a plain wall or pallet, why not make it beautiful?”

Pollinators like butterflies and hummingbirds feed on honeysuckle’s nectar, making the perennial ideal for wildlife observers. If you’re in search of a birthday gift that’s sure to wow, this month’s birth flower is low-maintenance, high-impact and full of love