You think you're done. You're sure you've finished. The planting is behind you. You're ready to move onto flower field maintenance. And then you attack the neglected field. And in doing this, you notice one or two tub annuals aren't thriving. And then you wonder if that lavender bush that has yet to show new growth actually survived. And your sweetie says he has to pick up a few watermelon seedlings. And so you're off to the Greenhouses (Kopke's) and you come back with a few more things and suddenly your morning is shot and by its end, you're not even done with planting what you picked up.
That's my morning for you.
Of course, all this happens in the beauty of a magnificent day. Cooler, but sunny. And the apple blossoms and the lilac blooms are sublime.
Their flowers are short-lived so let's be sure to take them in now, from all sides!
Breakfast, inside (because of the cool front passing through), but delightful and with Ed again.
And then, well, you see how things proceeded.
When I was walking through the Greenhouses, I noticed so many more beautiful plants that I could easily fit into our expansive farmette fields. But I'm staying within a budget and, too, I have to remind myself that aiming for more isn't always such a good thing. For example, I have an extra tub. I could easily fill it with flowers and find a spot for it. But is that really necessary? Will it add something significant to the gardens?
This is the time when everything looks robust and healthy, but it hasn't yet filled all gardening space. Too, in a few weeks, we will hit the transition period between spring and summer when very few of my flowers sprout blooms. (It's when the tubs become all important.) So the temptation is to preemptively fill every space to capacity. It's something that I have to resist. And I did resist today, even as I allowed myself a few tiny additions!
In the afternoon, I pick up the kids and we go over to the local Farmers Market where we meet up with Ed. The kids love this. The market is very small scale and they love running between familiar stalls.
And yes, picking out treats is equally thrilling!
(Cannot resist a dandelion puff!)
(on the drive home, we encounter these guys; I'd never seen a baby sandhill crane before!)
After a solid afternoon at the farmhouse, I drop the kids off and return to my flowers. I can't quite finish working on the roadside bed, because, believe it or not, I feel compelled to do some watering. We have a streak of dry days coming up and I dont want the new plantings to suffer for it.
Maybe I'll get to the roadside weeds tomorrow. Maybe I'll be done with planting too! Unless I spot something else and continue. May is like that. A month of the very best outdoor work.
with love...
