When I look back at the garden pictures from last year, I can see a much more developed or mature area this year. I have pretty defined areas for the crop plants but I prefer a riot of flowers. Different colors and shapes mixed together! What can I say?
When we returned from Stansbury Park (and gone most of May), we found the azalea and rhododendron plants pretty much flowerless. But the lilies have started to come in and the irises are continuing to bloom. We even had our first gladiolus flowers. The snap dragons from last year are tall and majestic with blooms and the dianthus are also filling out. The canna lily plants we moved to the side of the garden against the fence last year are growing giant leaves and stems. Even the allum I transferred this last winter are sending up leaves and flower stalks. It is definitely spring for that part of the yard!
The plants in the garden are pretty much in growing mode now; I am still getting 3 or 4 sweet peas a day. That plant will get taken out next week to make room for some more green beans. I am quite surprised it has lasted in our heat this long. It is still getting cool at night and the plant is still making a few flowers here and there.
The corn is growing like crazy. The tallest stalks are over 2 feet tall (they are the Silver Queen variety), and the second batch has just started taking off. These are the Early Girl variety but they were planted later. I have a third variety of corn called Bodacious and those are the smallest yet. But all are growing.
I have also planted zucchini from Lori S and some yellow summer squash. These have flowered and now have little starts on them. For a while something (probably rodentoid) was eating all the tiny starts but that has stopped. McDaddy, the cat from next door, has been hanging out in the garden a lot; he is quite the mouser so he most likely took care of the problem. The cantaloupe is struggling as is the cucumber. And the watermelon cannot seem to grow leaves! Dave figured out we have an earwig problem so I have put out diatomaceous earth and even bought some funny looking earwig traps. Which did drown lots of them! I have also been working on getting the dead leaves out but since one entire side is oak trees, that is a constant battle! Keeps me busy!
I will try to update every couple of weeks as different veggies come in. It is a great and relaxing way to spend my time outdoors!