2023 May Garden Sustainable Maintenance
May
April showers bring May mosquitoes. Here’s what you need to do!
Slow down, Sally! Time is going by waaayyyy too fast. I don’t want spring to be over! Yes, I know it doesn't officially end until June 21st, but summer can begin as soon as our last frost in Raleigh. While we continue to have yoyo weather, hot than cold, I prefer that to a continuous wave of heat that the summer will bring. I’m still getting plants in!!! But I’m ready for all my pollinator friends to arrive. Nothing warms my heart more than watching a butterfly alight to sup the nectar from a nectar-rich flower.
The mailbox
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I've added the Back 40 (ft) North to South here. It wasn’t my intent, but as plants become available, I’m adding more. I need to be careful because this is a Xeric zone. Left over from the Joslin Garden plant sale, I added two unnamed azaleas and a Japanese roof iris. The variegated money plant, Lunaria annua, is looking good.
The Back 40 (ft) South to North—I’ll soon need to trim the boxwood hedges that allow me to stay neat and tidy while going wild behind!
Gazebo Corner—A Lady Banks rose, Rosa banksiae, grows over the gazebo. David is still working on cutting down trees, and who knows, maybe he will get a tree service to get the pine trees down. He likes to take his time in decision-making. First, he says, we are going to remove certain trees. Then put tags on the ones to be removed, and then maybe he will call to get the work done. It’s been about six months now, Ha!
Amorphophallus konjac
The Epimedium Patch—With new plantings last month, this bed is finally making a show. The bed also has voodoo lilies, Amorphophallus konjac.
The Wildflower Patch Extension—I added several more anemones. Not sure of the variety, but I will once they bloom.
Trillium cuneatum
The Wildflower Patch—The trillium did wonderfully this year, multiplying from last year. I hope to see even more next year! True confession this is not my patch; instead, it’s one of many in the Joslin Garden. Again, I can dream…
The Southside—Thankfully, the hardy kiwi is gone. It was a hot mess. As I continue to streamline the Bee Better Teaching garden so I can spend more time at the beach, knowing this beast is gone helps. I didn’t like the fruit that much anyway!
The Ostrich Fern Garden—My fledgling fern ben is coming along. My fern bed will look as good as the Joslin Garden’s patch one day!
The Front Fountain Garden—I’m waiting for the perfect light to get a photo.
The Blackberry Patch with Chimney Swift Tower—My friend, Nathalie, helped me in the garden to trellis the blackberries and dig a trench to bury the drain sprout. It has been a constant problem since chipmunks go up them to get away from Pepper, and they is long gone while Pepper spends the next 45 minutes barking and chewing the pipe to get to the long-gone rodent.
Poppies in the Food Forest
The Food Forest Extension—The blueberries are thriving now that I took out the crape myrtle. Everything looks better with it gone!
The Parterre—Looking so colorful!
Rock Garden—
The Raspberry Patch/Muscadine Vine—Remember last month when my friend, Don, re-directed the muscadine vine? It’s doing beautifully. now.
The River Bed—Allium schubertii blooming.
I also save the stalks!
The Pollinator Garden—The Blackberry trellis is working out fine.
The North Side—
The Rock Garden—
The Girl’s Garden—Not much changed. The six new girls are doing fine and getting bigger. Still not ready to be introduced into the coop.
The Wildlife Pond—I STILL need to add more rock. I really did a bad job designing this.