May Musings 2026

May greetings fellow gardeners and nature enthusiasts,

As the morning dawns, the sun lights up the tree line to the south as fog drifts through from the east. The earth glistens from yesterday’s rain. It’s going to be a hot one on the 16th of the month. I’m feeling big changes are ahead, and I want to be prepared. For the moment, however, allow me to back up to last month for a reflection or two.

Judy’s viburnums perfume the air around the Knoll.

In all my years of gardening, I cannot recall anything quite as devastating to the garden as the frigid blasts of April 21st and 22nd. This was no ordinary frost; it was a freeze. I knew some serious weather was about to unleash, so I piled straw a foot high up and over my peas. Most had already attached themselves to the trellis and appeared well snuggled in. Both mornings, I was out hosing the rows down several times as the sun was rising. Upon inspection, most of their height had turned a grisly gray.

Fast forward to today, most survived but have been considerably set back. Not so for the onions and shallots. Every year, I set my baby plants in early April, keep them evenly moist, but never cover them for cold protection. Well, I should have. I lost over 60% of them due to what I believe was the ground actually freezing the top inch of soil. These plants were just getting established and looking well when this happened. I’m still pulling up dead plants, and replacing them with onion sets. Even the garlic (which nicely made it through the freezing and thawing of winter’s withdrawal), received tip damage. Thankfully, they’re fine.

It’s apple blossom time.

So far, this my favorite month of the year, has been so cold and windy that I haven’t even dared to put veggie plants out to harden off. I bring them out to where I think it’s sheltered, barely turn around, and they’re bowled over. Back in they come; frustrating!  Warm weather tomatoes, peppers, and eggplant remain in the cellar windows growing taller and taller.

The glorious blooms of a spiteful crabapple tree.

On the other hand, right on cue, May 10th heralded in apple blossom time, a brief time I love. That pink crabapple you see pictured remained unpruned this year, as it was scheduled to be cut down. Overcome by the massive yew alongside it, the tree is lopsided and suffering.  But look what happened! “I’ll show you”, it exclaimed, and so it did. A lovely sight, alive with the buzzing of bees and other pollinators. The viburnums have perfumed the air this entire week. Forget-me-nots volunteer everywhere I don’t choose, but their blueness is so striking. I weed around them. The lilacs, although not a great year for them, are now coming into bloom. The tulips that weren’t eaten by voles have been putting on a show. I see white streaks in some blossoms. Caused by a virus, and this kind of coloration was the impetus for “tulip mania” in Holland back in the 1630’s. Now, a bountiful crop of dandelions has released their progeny in wild abandon (round one!), and given way to bright buttercups. Time for a test. Do you like butter? Hold a buttercup under your chin. If there’s a golden reflection, you love butter! A lot of yellow chins around here…

White streaks present on these tulip blossoms indicate virus.

  Yesterday I sowed several varieties of veggies outside in a raised bed. I’ll transplant those to the main gardens later. Nasturtiums and zinnias have been direct-seeded also. With luck, we’ll finish planting potatoes in a week or so. I’m excited to try 4 new varieties. As for all the other plants-in-waiting, I’m quite sick of catering to them, so I hope I can get them all out and into the gardens soon.

About that sparrow/bluebird showdown around here… We were quite sure the sparrows gave up the fight for the birdhouse May 1st. At dusk on that day, I knocked on the nest box, and out bolted the sparrow, not to be seen again- that is, until the 11th. The bluebirds had already secured residence when the male sparrow tried desperately to win the house back. The pair of bluebirds had finally developed some hutzpah and nailed the cowering sparrow flat against the trellis. About time you guys! The standoff continues, but much less frequently. The blues can handle it.

Striking blue forget-me-nots punctuating Judy’s gardens.

May 6th saw the arrival of our male oriole. Man, does he love Birdberry Jelly! Mr. “Black Tie Affair” now has a lady friend. All this right outside our kitchen window! We’ve had a peek at a male hummingbird sampling the bleeding heart lining the west side of our porch.  Now the irresistible wild columbine is luring him back. It’s unusual not to see activity at the feeders by now, but that will come. Our beloved swallows are back, sweeping in several times a day, circling above the garden, chatting a blue-streak, and gulping down tasty bugs. Sometimes they drop down for a mouthful of gravel. A one-time sighting of a pine warbler on our woodpecker feeder was a delight, as was a kinglet in the apple blossoms. Wrens have taken over 2 nearby houses.

Along with these many delights come the deer, turkeys and rabbits. I’ve heard a barred owl and a great horned. What about the fox and bobcat- where are y’all? Remember my warning about the chickens, though!

Back to the gardens for a moment. This is a great time to fertilize. Espoma Holly-tone for acid-loving plants (rhododendrons, azaleas, etc., and Flower-tone, Rose-tone, or Plant-tone for perennials, shrubs and trees, Turf-tone for lawns. All good choices. Don’t forget all-natural nitrogen fertilizer for onions and garlic up until the solstice.

In a yo-yo affair, we have gone from cold to hot in one fell swoop. I fear drought and heat will be a big factor in the upcoming growing season. I will be mulching heavily to moderate these conditions. Just so you’ll know, our straw bales are beautiful right now- no visible seed heads, long fibers, and lovely flaxen color. Perfect for the garden.

Don’t forget to join us for the native plant seminar this Saturday, May 23rd at 10 am. It’s a great one!

 That’s it for now.

Judy, the plucky farmer