First, the carnage. A record-setting arctic blast Christmas week--3 degrees for a low here in the Lyman Metro--did more damage than I anticipated. The roll call of potted plants killed disheartening.
Two Japanese maples, an Inaba Shidare and an Orangeola, after surviving 2 previous winters. A Rose of Sharon grown from a cutting, after 4 winters. A fig, 4 winters. A Chinese wisteria, 5. Three Juniper procumbens 'Nanas', first winter. A Satsuki azalea, first winter. A Japanese maple I dug out of a niece's yard, 5.
The empty pots, still a sore sight.
After warm temperatures launched an early bloom for the Yoshinos, and almonds, and peaches, and the crabapples, a hard freeze for several mornings the third week in March burned the freshest shoots on my elms, tea olives, and nandina.
But now in May--azaleas and dogwoods and quince past blooming--the knockouts are covered in flowers, the crape myrtle are showing the first hint of flowers to come, lavenders and butterfly bushes soon to join the party.
Two Super Sweet 100 cherry bushes are growing, the cucumbers--Straight Eights and Braggers--are just emerging from seed. After my nearly total failure with sweet potatoes last year, this season's pact with my youngest neighbors is to try my hand at growing peanuts. The bad news, they need a long hot summer.
The Gala apples have a moderate crop forming, and the Fugis actually have two tiny apples each, so maybe next year will see their first significant production.
Already thinking about next year and this growing season still not in full swing.
The bluebirds seem to be on course for another hatch. Last week for an afternoon, their condo was under assault from chimney swifts, but then the swifts disappeared. No signs of a new crop of geese or herons or red-shouldered hawks, although I have seen the hawk pair together a few times this past week.
And so by all accounts--despite setbacks--the cycle continues, the hopes that springs eternal.
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