MAY

STOP!!! Please, May, stop right where you are! Let me breathe in warm spring air before the heat of the summer is upon me!

I’m not ready for the heat of summer. I need to ease into it. Typically, the heat doesn’t bother me, but I need to acclimate. With climate change, it’s hot, cold, hot, and cold again. I’m not complaining about the rain the April showers brought to my garden, though.

The Back 40 (ft)—I am still working to clear up the Back 40 after removing four pine trees. So far, I have picked up seven-yard waste bags full of pinecones and other debris. On the first, I picked up five native azaleas from Taylor’s Nursery. Hopefully, they will put on a show next spring.

Along the kid’s “Soccer Field” I cut back the flower heads of at least 100 hellebores that line the field. All were in some stage of seed development. One plant had already dropped its seed. I probably should have cut these back a few weeks ago.

Gazebo Corner—The Lady Banks rose is past its prime, but she was a beauty when in bloom. Soon the confederate jasmine will bloom.

The Epimedium Patch—At one time, I thought bunnies were noshing on these babies, but they seem to have recovered and are doing nicely!

The Wildflower Patch Extension—Moved a just planted oakleaf hydrangea from here to the back 40 (ft.)

The Wildflower Patch—Cleared this area of bits of palm and other leaves.

I’m not done yet! It’s a work in progress. Soon, though. In the meantime, aesthetics didn’t stop me from planting with this season’s veggies.

The Southside—I’m still amazed at how much light I now have with the Southern magnolia gone.

The Ostrich Fern Garden is looking mighty fine.

.The Front Fountain Garden—The ferns are filling!

The Food Forest—I’ve been working on adding the four raised beds to my food forest (See above.). The space is lumpy, so I have been working to level it out. It’s hard work, so I’m doing just an hour or two at a time, but it is coming along.

I planted strawberries, yellow and red bell peppers, and hot peppers and sowed carrots and basil. In other areas, I plant cucumbers, pak choi, and salad burnet.

The Parterre—The center with the apple tree has irises. What a good show they put on this year! Also, the beds around this center have a thyme that has really leaped this year. It’s just starting to bloom.