It continues to amaze me how fast the time passes lately, but here we are, on the final day of what was a fairly wet spring. It seems, lately, like every week the forecast is for five days of rain and two days of sun...if we're lucky. Fortunately, for the past two weeks, that sunshine has managed to appear for most of the weekends, so that's a good thing for those who don't have to report to work somewhere and be stuck indoors during this glorious late spring weather.
Still, it feels like we really haven't gotten the best that spring usually has to offer...warming temperatures, but not too hot, and cool breezes. It's been a mixed bag of cold, warm, warmer and a little bit of hot and humid. I don't recall humidity like that here in the "Great Northeast" until mid-summer, usually late July and August, but it has been visiting lately with the warmer temperatures and the rainy weather. I'd say it's strange, but with what has been happening with weather generally around the globe, I won't speculate as to the cause. Draw your own conclusions, but please don't dismiss the scientists and meteorologists.
All of that said, the excess of rain this spring has been very helpful in my efforts to remedy what previously was a long neglected lawn at my home. Previous occupants were transient over the 30 years of my home's existence. (I've been here for 5 1/2 years.) This was the year that I have made a commitment to addressing what was threatening to become a patch of sandy soil rather than a nice, lush patch of grass. It's not a huge lawn area, and easily maintained, but prior owners didn't seem to care. This spring, I fertilized the lawn, and have been tossing seed down systematically since April in the areas in most desperate need of attention. It's getting a bit late now to expect quick germination, so I'll scale back until mid-autumn, but I've been very pleased with the areas where I concentrated and the new grass has emerged well and seems to be thriving. I've also watered where needed, even though we've had so much rain. Those first few days of seeding are so crucial to keep them moist so they'll germinate and grow well. It's a slow process, but so gratifying when the bright green shoots pop up and fill in the spotty areas. I have more work to do later this year, but am keeping at it to keep things going in the right direction.
I've also got some flowers and herbs growing from small nursery plants and from seed, along with my usual flower box of leaf lettuces and a pot of radishes...all appear to be doing well. I've had other indoor projects to tackle this year, so am not spending too much time on gardening, but have relied on the easiest plant choices that have worked well in the past.
I also retrieved from storage my wood outdoor chairs and settee (in photo above). They've seen a bit of wear over the years, but with a bit of tapping with my mallet and wood glue to put them back into place, they are tightening up well again and make a nice area in the shady corner of my yard - a relaxing place to sit and enjoy a cooling glass of iced tea!
Here's to a pleasant (and hopefully a little bit drier) summer here and wherever you are (if you don't need the rain). Do make an effort get out and enjoy the balmy, beautiful outdoors as much as you can, as the chill of fall and winter will return soon enough to remind us that Mother Earth always needs a rest from her spring and summer labors in providing us the beautiful trees, fields and meadows, flowers, plants and bountiful produce.
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