Nearing the end of May, looking back on the month, it’s hard to decide what to focus on. The weather started out the month on the decidedly cool side with the rain being on the generous side without being a gully washer. This encouraged plants to grow, though slowly because of the cool weather. The raised beds have been cleared of dead leaves and various weeds trying to get a head start ahead of my planting. A garden trowel is very useful for discouraging this. I now have garden peas, carrots, spinach and potatoes poking up, so I’m keeping my fingers crossed.
The old flower gardens I’ve inherited from my mother are badly in need of renovating. Lily of the Valley has been making a power play to take over the front garden, crowding out everything else. The side garden, which is dedicated to daylilies, also needs a make-over. Last year, they looked like the picture below.
This year, it’s wall-to-wall daylilies and I can’t see any sign of the daffodils I planted there a few years before. Visits to gardening websites recommend thinning every three to five years to keep them under control, something I’ve been very negligent about and will have to correct.
Monday was Memorial Day, and my small town (population just over 6000) had a parade. A few years ago, the parade had been canceled due to lack of volunteers and an aging honor guard. This produced a loud enough howl of protest that efforts were undertaking to quickly bring back the parade. Yes, the honor guards are getting a bit long in the tooth, but they marched anyway.
The American Legion did their bit, carrying their banner.
And including a small float.
The local Knights of Columbus also marched.
An outfit called the sons of the Revolution put in their own float, along with cosplayers.
The parade wound up with the local Fire Rescue Squad, complete with a dalmatian dog.
A modest affair compared with larger towns, but it drew a good crowd, nonetheless. The weather was clear and mild, making for a perfect Memorial Day.
Take care, all and have a happy June.
“I was not in the parade but should have been.”