The temperatures are getting warmer, and signs of the impending summer season are all around us. The growing season is marching right along as we begin to say goodbye to the spring blooms and wait patiently for the summer flowers. May was busy, highlighted by abundant planting, strange weather, and beautiful blooms. I can hardly believe that it is time to recap once again what has been growing on in the garden this past month. I thoroughly enjoy these monthly posts, as they allow me to reflect on all that was accomplished here on the farm. Plus, they enable me to share small details that might not be worthy of an entire post. So, let’s get to it! Here’s what we’ve been up to in the month of May:
Spring was blooming: May saw the end of our tulip and daffodil season as we ushered in a new round of spring flowers. This month, lilacs, poppies, baptisia, peonies, iris, ranunculus, and anemones appeared. These flowers are among some of my favorites, and it is always a joy to see them. Lilacs hold special meaning to me, so I soak in their beauty and scent for the short season that they are here. Baptisia is quickly becoming one of my favorite perennials to grow, and I’m thrilled to have expanded my collection to five varieties in shades of blue, yellow, pink, and white. And peonies are, of course, a personal favorite of mine, so I look forward to their blooms all year. When the time comes, I enjoy every second. This fall, I will add to our collection and expand our peony garden. Several new varieties and more of our favorites will go into the ground once the weather cools this fall.
But, honestly, the ranunculus was the star of the show this month. After taking care of these plants since January, they finally started to bloom and were spectacular! Seeing the flowers made me forget about all the stress they had caused me up until that point and made me fall in love with them all over again. I had planted several new varieties, and they didn’t disappoint with their fluffy petals in shades of yellow, white, pink, salmon, and picotee. Sadly, the ranunculus season is relatively short-lived as they go into dormancy once the weather warms. I will allow them to die back over the next few weeks so that I can save the corms to replant next year. The season was fleeting, but it certainly left a lasting impression.
Oh, so much planting: May is typically when I get all our seedlings, directly sown seeds, dahlia tubers, and new perennials into the ground. When our average last frost date passes, I stand ready with my garden gloves and trowel. This year, our last frost came late, which left me scrambling to cover our plantings to protect them from the damaging cold. The temperature swings have kept me on my toes this year!
Besides the usual planting of our seedlings, seeds, and (over 100!) dahlia tubers, this year, I have been focusing on increasing the number of perennials we have here on the farm. Perennials are great additions to flower farms because they can bloom between the end of the spring bulbs and the beginning of the summer annuals. Plus, they reliably come back each year and are relatively low maintenance once established. I have planted dozens of new perennials this past month, including favorites such as lupine, yarrow, phlox, bleeding heart, roses, Verbascum, meadow rue, baptisia, and bellflower. I am also taking on a shade garden project featuring ferns, astilbe, Solomon’s Seal, hellebores, and aruncus. And it never hurts to add more foliage!
And when the temperatures finally stayed above 50 degrees at night, I planted all of our tomato and pepper plants. I can’t wait to taste the first ripe fruits of summer! We enjoyed the taste of our first lettuce, cilantro, spinach, and snap peas of the season, and boy, were they tasty! Yes, my back and knees are sore from all the planting, but hopefully, it will all be worth it as the season unfolds.
Other farm tasks: Besides all the planting and harvesting that’s been going on, I’ve stayed busy keeping on top of weeding, watering, and mulching. Today, I spent time on the mundane task of disinfecting and cleaning seed trays. Of course, not all sides of flower farming are glamorous! But, despite these critical (but not as fun) tasks, I still got plenty of time to play with flowers. It feels good to be creating bouquets and arrangements again! I love how these tasks allow me to flex my creativity. Mother’s Day was especially rewarding as I saw our flowers brighten the day for mothers in our community. I don’t think seeing the smiles that our flowers bring to people’s faces will ever get old.
I still visited two flower farmer friends among all the rushing around this month. It was so lovely to catch up and talk about all things flowers. And, to end the month on a high note, my husband and I celebrated our 24th wedding anniversary! He has greatly supported me during this flower farming journey, and I couldn’t follow this dream without him.
There is much to look forward to in the upcoming months as our growing season kicks into high gear. I’m excited to see what else this season has in store. I hope all of you are enjoying your gardens and are taking the time to savor the season. That’s what’s been growing on in my garden; what’s been growing on in yours?
THISTLE BE THE DAY 