May should always smell of lilac.
We thought spring might never arrive. But it did, at least for a day or two. But then, BAM, straight on into summer. Heat plus humidity hangs in the air like sodden laundry on the line. Thunderstorms materialize from nowhere like a bunny from Mother Nature’s magic top hat.
But the garden doesn’t seem to mind, for the most part. The radishes went straight to seed without ever rounding into those luscious curves that peep out suggestively from the dirt. The peas were lackluster as well. But the tomato plants are surging and several are blossoming. I’m struggling with the idea of pinching off those first blossoms with hopes of forcing the energy back into the plant for a more vigorous production down the road. But a tomato in the hand in July may be worth more than a basketful in August.
These are the decisions that keep me up at night.
Here’s a quick stroll around the garden from May.
Tomatoes…pretty much the reason why I garden!
This little fellow may be enjoying these beauties even more than we are!
The allium always puts on a show.
A wild May Apple blossom beneath its green umbrella.
Foxglove are always a favorite.
Catmint (before they all lay down, leaving a bald spot in the middle that rivals my own.)
So long May and cheers to June! And thanks to Helen for hosting the End of Month View theme!
NestOfSquirrels 
So lush and beautiful! It’s payback, for the long winter . . .
Thanks! We definitely deserve any sunny days we get after that winter! Sending warm and sunny thoughts your way! 🙂
Same happened here Ben – freezing in March and then boiling hot in April and May. We only got rain towards the end of May too and now the humidity! Love that Allium. And your tomato plants do look healthy. Hope you make the right decision about whether to pinch them out or not…, 😉
Hopefully we can keep the tomatoes disease free…we’ve planted mostly heirlooms and they’re not the most disease resistant. I probably doesn’t help that we have limited space and I try to pack them in 🙂 Wishing you sunny days and low humidity!
Lovely photos, as always. It seems it is hot and humid many other places than Florida. I have two bell peppers and one Fennel I am still waiting for in the vegetable garden, then solarize!! Your tomatoes look fabulous -pinch! I very nearly killed some Blueberry plants this spring by letting them produce before they were established.
Thanks! And I believe I will take your advice and pinch! 🙂 Good luck with your solarization…something I need to do this year.
Looking wonderful!
Besides pinching off a blossom or two now & then -what other methods do you use on your tomato plants?
I pinch out the new growth that forms in the V of main-stem and side branches for instance.
I’ve read about other people taking off lots of non-producing leaves and branches altogether.
I’ve even seen plants de-foliated and staked to form a single stalk. severe but the owner swore they had huge harvests doing it that way.
Hopefully, June is kind and you get ample rain & sunshine combined 🙂
I sometimes pinch out the suckers as well. I’ll usually remove the leaves closest to the soil once they get established to try and keep any soil-borne disease from jumping onto the plant. Also lots of compost and wishing on stars 🙂 Wishing you a warm and sunny June as well!
Your flowers and veggies are all looking good. 🙂
Thank you! With any luck we’ll be hip-deep in veggie goodness this summer 🙂
Looking wonderful. So it’s not just my catmint that flops? Enjoy those tomatoes.
Thanks! I’ve yet to find a way to find the catmint from taking a dive…I guess we’ll just have to enjoy them, lazy though they may be 🙂
Foxglove are a fav of mine too! Your garden looks fabulous … shame on those radishes 🙂 Our Autumn wasn’t terrific and we have zoomed into winter. But today is divine .. watch out garden here I come!
A day spent in the garden is never wasted! 😊
” Heat plus humidity hangs in the air like sodden laundry on the line. Thunderstorms materialize from nowhere like a bunny from Mother Nature’s magic top hat.”
LOL…you sure have a way with words. You captured this spring-summer thingy going on well! Truly a roller coaster ride…what spring???? Everything is off but the heat loving veggies are enjoying this year. I am counting on amazing nightshades!!! Happy Gardening!
Thanks! 🙂 Hope your nightshades (and all the rest) are doing well. We’re getting a lot of rain this week, so I’m doing my best to make sure mine don’t get any of that nasty blight. I have the terrible habit of planting them too close together due to limited space combined with an insatiable appetite for homegrown tomatoes 🙂
Cheers!
Ben
Agreed. It’s my first time here and I noticed the writing immediately. Nicely done.
Robbie’s right – like your writing and I’m pleased that I’m not the only one having trouble with radishes (or maybe I shouldn’t say pleased 😉 ). Your garden’s looking great, good luck with the tomatoes. So much rain here that I start worrying about mine…and where is summer anyway? At least I don’t have to worry about watering plants, haha. Looking forward to your future posts 🙂
Thanks so much! Summer has finally found us here and I’ve been dragging around the hoses and watering cans all weekend trying to make sure no plant went thirsty 😀
Your garden looks lovely. And I’m with you – I garden for the tomatoes. There’s nothing like that first ripe tomato, just picked, still warm from the sun. ***shivers***
Thanks! Sometimes I’ll take a shaker of salt out to the garden because I just can’t wait to get that tomato back to the kitchen 😉
Ah, that’s an idea I am going to steal.
😉