Six on Saturday: May 4

The first Saturday in May and there’s lots in bloom!  Here in central Indiana, the rains continue unabated, requiring the purchase of a new pair of boots!  I really wanted flowers, but these with chickens were the only ones in my size.  At least they will be easy to locate…that’s a scary yellow!  Obviously, we have still been unable to mow the lawn between the house and potager, and rain is forecast for the next three weeks!  I may have to sharpen my scythe, although I haven’t used it since harvesting grains (rye, buckwheat, wheat) back in my homesteading days!  The unusually cool weather of April has continued into May, and the tulips are loving it!  I don’t think I’ve ever had them last so long as they are this year.  Those pretty orange ones are “Annie Schilder” in part of the Front Garden, but

   they are also sprinkled throughout the Addition and other gardens.  At least the front lawn has been mowed once, but it needs it again.  The primulas are also happy campers.    This little double one is
“Bellerina Nectarine.”  The ones behind the Lady Cottage should be opening soon.  The potager’s exterior border  is filling in nicely.  “May Queen” shastas are budded and will be the stars once the spring bulbs are gone.  The first of the dwarf irises opened today, and the “Valerie Finnis” muscari are still looking good.  There’s lots of deadheading of the earliest bulbs that needs doing, but the soil is just too wet to step into the beds.  Inside the potager the crops are growing slowly in these cool temps  but the peas are climbing the fence and the edging of “Bright Gem” mini tulips are stealing the show.  No, I haven’t yet planted the missing violas.  It just won’t stop raining long enough, and I’m too old to work in the rain.   However someone/some critter doesn’t mind working in the rain, and has dug up several of the second planting of peas and the recent planting of “Royal Burgundy” beans that are just beginning to germinate, so there is replanting on the job list as soon as the rain stops.   The container by the front door has finally been planted    although any visitors need to be wearing waders!  That’s my soggy, quick “Six on Saturday.”  If you’d like to see how other gardens are faring, visit The Propagator, who hosts this meme.

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