The May Garden

Although the blue blossoms are pretty, grape hyacinths have become invasive in some areas of the garden. (Photo (c) Hilda M. Morrill)
Although the blue blossoms are pretty, grape hyacinths have become invasive in some areas of the garden. (Photo (c) Hilda M. Morrill)

In spite of the eternal winter of 2015 and our so-so spring, there is beauty to be found in the garden. According to a recent UMass Extension e-newsletter, “Abnormally cold April weather has seriously damaged many landscape trees and shrubs.”

Alas, our forsythia border never recovered and we missed its sunny blossoms. Even some of our neighbors noted their disappointment.

There are a few late blooming daffodils trying to cheer us up. I must find out their names and buy some bulbs for planting next fall. While on the subject of “next fall,” we’re already receiving ads for September and October plantings. According to our friend Brent Heath, co-owner of Brent & Becky’s Bulbs, Tête-à-tête daffies are the most common/popular nowadays. Years ago it was King Alfred daffodils.

Our vegetable garden is producing some chives, sage, Egyptian onions, flat leaf parsley and lovage. The rhubarb is coming along nicely. Thank goodness for perennials and self-seeding biennials.

The hoses have been brought out of the cellar and the outside water faucets turned on. The birdbaths have been filled and are being enjoyed by our feathered visitors. We hear that the hummers are moving north and soon it will be time to hang up their feeder filled with home-made nectar that they love. Once the current supply of birdseed is gone, we’ll stop filling the seed feeder until the fall.

Dreaming of the arrival of beautiful Monarch butterflies, we look forward to seeing milkweed plants popping up here and there.

Putting on a good show are the lunaria, or money plants, with their pink flowers. The peonies are at least a foot high. The grape hyacinths are almost invasive but so pretty.

We need to distribute some deer deterrent around, especially around our emerging hostas and daylilies, which they love to munch. Deer sightings are common in the neighborhood and in fact, several of them have been involved in car accidents. Other recent visitors have included a bunny, a ground hog and a black cat. Some towns are having problems with bears, so maybe I shouldn’t complain too much.

Hubby has cut our so-called lawn and he set up the outdoor chairs and table.

Before we know it, it will be Memorial Day.