Baskets and Birds
The Mother's Day weekend has always been the time when I set out six to eight hanging baskets of blooming colour around the house. At first, this year looked like it would be a fail as my perusal last Wednesday of my usual sources turned up nothing I either wanted nor was willing to pay. Two garden centres were just setting out stock and what they had was, in a word, meh. Friday's excursion proved modestly better but Saturday's drop in at a grocery store outdoor garden centre was perfect.
Hanging baskets are the best choice in my part of the world for this time of year as frost remains a distinct possibility until the first week of June (even later there can be unwelcome chilly surprises).
Every evening since Friday, I've had to bring the blooms into the garage as temperatures dropped to freezing. Tonight's forecast again is advising of frost. I might be okay with that, but unless one is up and out first thing in the morning, sunshine is also missing from too much of too many days. As I've been writing this, the clear blue skies of 9am have have once again been overtaken by clouds. It's getting as tedious as a pandemic lockdown!
Even the hummingbirds are tentative in their return with just one showing up now and then.
And I've yet to see a Baltimore Oriole at the feeder, but I know they have been sighted in the vicinity. The orange, nectar and grape jelly are all set up for them. Goldfinches, chipping sparrows and pine warblers are the main attraction at my feeders.
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| Pine Warbler |
Elsewhere in the yard, the first trim of the lawn has been done and the forget-me-nots and wild strawberry blossoms are popping up...
...as are the tulips, though the cool temperatures keep them closed up to stay warm.
The rhubarb is set for first harvest by mid-week.
And that's the way it is as the second week of May kicks into gear.
Stay safe. Be well.
Enjoy the emerging colour and bird song of spring.
©2021 April Hoeller
