Early May Ramblings

Decided to do two ramblings this month as so much changes, so very quickly in spring... One now, today being the first day of May, and one in mid to late May....

The beds have all been topped with a dressing of manure and all cool weather crops are planted and coming up nicely... onions, carrots, beets, Swiss chard, radishes, spinach, lettuces, peas...

17 of the 23 beds are fully planted up.... 2 are waiting for tomatoes, 1 is for cukes, and 1 will be a 'Three Sisters" bed (corn, beans and squash).
The last two are long beds that already contain some perennials, roses, rhubarb, etc... so I just fill them to the brim with a mix of cutting flowers, usually Zinnias, Sunflowers, Dahlias, Glads, and whatever else catches my eye.   

The Herb Bed

The Herb Bed is really coming to life now...

Carrots and beets have been thinned out and look lovely... waiting till the weather rises just a wee bit to start adding the marigolds and nasturtiums to the beds.

Loving the Bellis aka English Daisies

More Bellis :)

In the 'pond', the Skunk Cabbages are blooming away, gorgeous yellow blooms that look a bit like Calla Lilies...

They have not yet begun to stink up the yard, but let me tell you, it will not be long till the begin to live up to their name!

  I often find myself looking for traces of skunk if the wind blows right (or should that be ...blows wrong?)

Muscari... love the deep blue, happy, little wave of colour naturalising in the Birch Corner.

The Birch Corner...

a great place to sit and comtemplate...

Spinach and peas...

Raspberries are leafing out nicely (front of pic) and two of the cherries, all abloom. Looks like lots of fruit this year :) 

These fruit trees and shrubs were planted in spring 2010

are going into their 3rd summer now, so am well pleased with their progress.

The brown, dead foliage stuff out back, behind the fence, are the native ferns..

by July they will be 6 feet tall once again, creating a lush green backdrop!

  

One of the cabbage and onion beds...

Fuchsia's can just stay warm in the greenhouse for a wee bit longer...

Though we are now safely past our 'official' last frost date for the year

 and the nights seem to be plus 6 C at a minmum...

I'm still going to wait a week or two longer before putting out the flowers...

Just in case ;)

Buds on the Purple Tomatillo

and... warm weather crops require plus 10C night and day

so tomatoes, cukes, squashes, basil, corn, etc...  

will go in the ground in or around the May Long week-end.

Not long now!