What is spring really supposed to be like? In my opinion, it should last through the month of May and half of June, with highs in the 60s to low 70s, and lows in the 40s. Sunny days should be balanced with spring rains and the occasional thunderstorm.
That's not what we got this year.
For much of April, highs were in the 40s and low 50s, with lows in the upper 20s and 30s. That's fairly normal for this area at this time of year. Then, beginning April 25, came four days of spring weather (according to my own definition), with highs from 61-76 and lows from 36-42. And then summer (or a sneak preview) arrived, with highs in the 80s and lows from 42-54. It was an abrupt change, and difficult for me to adjust to.
Hot weather has never agreed with me, even as a child. I love sunshine, but once the temperature rises above 75 I am very uncomfortable outdoors unless I'm in the shade. Some people are energized by warmer weather; I just wilt like a flower that needs water.
Cooler temperatures and rain are in the forecast, though, so I will come back to life soon. Meanwhile, I thought I'd post a few pictures of the yard and garden.
A year ago, a local horticulturalist told me I should dig up the daffodils once the leaves had turned brown, fertilize with phosphates, and replant the bulbs. In October I was to reapply the phosphates. I did all of that, yet only about a third of the daffodils are blooming. I am grateful to see at least that many decided to bloom this year! I have a poor track record when it comes to getting daffodils to bloom year after year. I blame the soil.
Last fall we moved our raspberry patch to this location. The old location was overgrown with weeds and full of big old raspberry cane roots. At least some (but not all) of the transplants are showing fresh green leaves. I may have to replace a few with volunteers which will inevitably turn up in the area where the old raspberry patch was located.
The rhubarb is looking happy and healthy.
I planted this lilac in October 2017. It was just a small plant, but it has really taken off this past year.
I think I should have trimmed back the strawberry plants last fall. I didn't bother, because I was going to dig them all up and put in a different variety this spring. But that's not going to happen after all. Oh well. They'll probably produce strawberries anyway.
I was very happy the day I noticed the garlic coming up through the straw with which I had covered it last fall!
The bleeding heart bush is growing rapidly. I divided the plant into several sections last fall and gave the rest away to friends and family who wanted some. It doesn't seem to have bothered the remaining plant at all.
I would love to be planting potatoes and peas and carrots right now, but a few things have to happen first. My husband needs to replace two rotting fence posts before he can tighten the sagging barbed wire fence. We intend to hire a couple of teens to help take down the barbed wire and the turkey fencing, dig up the old posts, help set the new posts,and replace the fencing. I think we will be bringing the new fence posts home tomorrow, and am hoping to get on with the project soon. I can't plant anything out in the garden until that is done, and then it has to be tilled as well.
I figure I will do well to plant by June 1. Even though that seems like a late planting date, my sister reminded me that our parents' neighbor over in western Montana always planted everything on June 1, and her garden was always a huge success. The climate there is similar to where I live, so I'm hoping her routine will work for me as well.
Meanwhile, I have started a few seeds in little containers in a somewhat-flimsy greenhouse on our deck, so at least I have gotten my hands in the dirt!