What a strange spring we've had. Of course there is the obvious differnces because of the corona virus but our weather has been pretty strange also. In middle Tennessee our average last frost date is mid April. After 80 degree temps in March it was hard to wait a few more weeks to plant our tender flowers and vegetables. As luck would have it, we got very busy with the house and I didn't have time to worry about planting anything. Last week-the second week of May- we had the potential for a freeze two nights in a row. We managed to escape with very little freeze damage and we are back up in the 80's again. The garden is responding well and finally springing to life.
Most of our early spring flowers have finished but this azalea is still holding on to its final blooms.
Many of the woody perennials are flowering now and will be making berries for a show later in the season.
Quite a few perennials have started blooming also. The purple campanula came from my grandmother's garden so it always make me think of her when it blooms. It does have a tendency to spread "vigorously" but I enjoy it and it doesn't seem to smother other plants so it gets to stay.
One of the things I love about our farm is the abundance of native plants growing here. Right now the edges of the fields are filled with wild blackberries and white roses. Soon the honeysuckle and wild pink roses will take over. There's not much difference in the appearance of the blackberries and white roses. They are in the same plant family but the roses climb much higher into the trees and smell wonderful.
This pentstemon is a native that grows in the edge of the fields also. I've transplanted some and now have them in flower beds also.
This native sedum grows in the fields where there is a rock outcropping.
Perhaps my favorite of all is the meadow wildflowers. Where the grass has not been cut is a sea of Queen Anne's lace, Bachelor buttons, Ox-eyed daisies, vetch, clover and more. This bunch is growing on my "bird and butterfly" hill. It's an area that I've dedicated to plants that birds, butterflies, insects and other animals will love. Not all the plants there are native but I've made sure to leave part of the hill for the wildflowers that are native to the property.
I feel like we've finally turned the corner and the cold weather is behind us. The end is also in sight for our house to be finished and we can live on this beautiful property.
Hoping that this post finds everyone safe and healthy and ready to embrace all the joys of spring.
~Happy gardening
Yes, the meadow wildflowers are my favorite too. I don’t have a big area for them, but do scatter seed mixes around. This year is the first I did it in the bare places in the front yard, and so far it looks like a success if I go by the different seedlings. At least I know the poppies will self-seed forever!