The May Garden

 

Where ever did the month of May go?!

We did have a solid week of soaking rain leading up to and through Memorial Day weekend. It was the loveliest rain and everyone rejoiced because it would alleviate the drought conditions here. The yard and garden sprang up green and the plants took off with growth. All the lavender made it through the winter and is about ready to bloom. The tomato plants from Raleigh have produced three, red plum tomatoes in an early record for us and Steve gave Father Xavier his first, ripe Cayenne pepper. I choose pole beans to grow on the wire trellis over my usual bush beans because Claire thought the trellis was so beautiful last year. We are also trying a new trellis method this year for the cherry tomatoes. They always grow too tall for the stakes so Steve built something similar to what he saw Simon use up in New Hampshire. The plants are tied with little plastic clips to the strings. I let the dill, basil, and marigolds come up voluntarily each year. They show u wherever they please and I either move them to better places or let them be, depending on if they are in the way. I also had several volunteer tomato plants that I kept. So far, we are off to a good start.!

Steve began to clear out the back of the property with the bulldozer. I told him to take out the scrubby cedars that grow as under story trees everywhere. (The ridge on which we live is labeled as "Cedar Ridge" on local maps.) Taking those out has now created a clear sight line through the large trees. He created a giant burn pile with all of it. Now he is pulling stumps. The goal is to be able to mow or at least brush hog right up to the graveyard back there. Poison ivy is abundant back there. I am afraid it will take off now that sunlight is being let in. I heard there is a local goat keeper who rents out their herd for grazing down overgrowth. I might look into that. 

I rejoiced when I saw that the oak leaf hydrangea is finally blooming for the first time since I planted it many years ago. I have no idea what changed its mind about blooming but I am so happy to see it!