This week in the garden...: 05-13-12 A real Spring!!!!

Last week I deplored the lack of rain but things have changed nicely since with about 3 " of wet stuff in the last few days. I noticed that even the Neuse River has been allowed to run a little higher than normal--good for kayakers! I hear we might get a little more in the next few hours--no complaint on my part. Tomato plants have reacted beautifully to that added water and great temps by growing a foot just in the last few days.

The other thing that has been amazing
this year is that, for the first time in as long as I can remember we're actually experiencing a real Spring with Spring temperatures instead of the usual cool to hot over a period of 24 H, with no real transition as has been the case so many times. Those 70s have felt absolutely great and plants have responded in kind with nice growth and amazing green, healthy colors. The cooler temps have also allowed blooms to last a little longer rather than disappear in just a few hours. This has allowed for great combinations of white, yellow, pink, blue, purples,...all at the same time and for longer periods.

This fennel is ready to be harvested and will be this week. Time to pull out my fish/fennel/tomato recipe.

You may notice the nylon mesh put in place to keep rabbits and fennel physically separated even though they mix very well on a stove top.

Blue Sage: this variation of the wild sage sports long trumpet-shaped flowers full of nectar easily accessible only to humming birds and their specially designed long beak. Bees use their brains, cultural memory or whatever they possess to drill a hole at the base of the flower and access the nectar without being frustrated by the trumpet's length.

Gaillardia native to NC, at least in its shorter beach version. Here is a before and after showing:

Some color variations in yarrows:

First Hollyhock, in one of my favorite colors: pale lemon with a touch of red on the pistil.

This next flower is a total oddity, in line with how things have been off-schedule this year. This mum usually bloom during the fair and football season. Do not ask me what it is doing opening six months early! I have no answer!