Urgency
May is the month when everything goes into the ground or pushes forth into the air. Some plants grow with such an intensity it is as if they fear an early death.
May 8th
Today I planted the Pandora, Grey, Danish Flag, and Black Swan poppies out front.
In the backyard veggie bed I planted one Bok Choy, a Sugar Baby Watermelon under a glass cloche, and 12 Tom Thumb lettuce seeds. I also filled and planted a fabric growing container with Bloomsdale Spinach, Rouge D’Hiver, and Mesclun for summer salads.
I sprinkled a packet of flower mix seeds in the bulb bed and planted containers of Nigella and Panies. I also planted some Phlox and one container of Strawberry Spinach.
The Lilies of the Valley have bloomed for the first time, and the hostas and ferns are unfurling. The lilacs are “leading” and the three peonies are growing tall. The two hydrangeas are growing well.
At the beginning of the month I planted four Purple Honeywort plants out front and four Bluebonnets in the square foot gardening grid I set out in the 4×4’ beds out front.
I weeded the backyard. The peas, beets, carrots, kohlrabi, leeks and onions are sprouting at different rates. The mint nor rosemary has not come back but panies are popping up in those pots.
May 15th
Planting day. It was a perfect overcast day. The tulips are blooming and the naturalized poppies have developed buds.
Today I planted the tomatoes and peppers, and added basil seedlings, and chive and cilantro seedlings.
I also planted the dahlias and a set of Grey Poppies in the container garden. I planted the stacking herb garden and hanging planters in the backyard.
The ferns and hostas are coming up and all of the Lilies of the Valley are in full bloom. The peonies also have buds.
The yellow Columbine purchased for Garden in a box are starting to form buds, but the ones I bought last year from a mail order company have not come back to life.
In the vegetable beds I planted 4 potato plants, 4 Napa cabbage, 4 bok choy, 2 each broccoli and eggplant seedlings. I also planted the 3 dill plants.
I noticed a strong rotting smell when I planted the parsley, and many of the pepper leaves were yellowing. Hopefully everything will perk up in their permanent spaces.
I can plant earlier next year (in February) to have larger transplants.
I set up drip irrigation but need to purchase more dripline.
Tomorrow I intend to focus on the front yard.
May 16th
This morning I planted flowers in the front, did a tiny bit of weeding, and lay down the dripline to the front corner bed. I thought it would be a lot harder than it was. I also cleaned up the shed.
Out back I planted 12 more carrots, beets, leeks, onions, and kohlrabi.
May 23rd
Yesterday I planted the tender crops and flowers: squashes, cucumber, okra, marigolds, poppies and seeded basil. The viola are in bloom and so beautiful. S built a cage for the strawberries to keep critters away, and a few heavy rain storms have kept the garden lush and green. We had to readjust the irrigation tube – why do I run out to metal staples every year? Where do they go? I purchased a 50 foot long drip line and attached it to the one already in the veggie bed.
Today I planted sunflowers, more poppies and more marigolds.
The peonies are budding and the very first columbines are beginning to bloom in the side yard.
The Bleeding Heart and Basket of Gold in the front are also blooming. In the back, the hosta, ferns and sea hollies are looking great.