May Day

Picture of a pagoda dogwood from last year.

Likewise, a geranium from last year

Today is the first day of May.  At one time May 1 was the day the feast of Beltane was celebrated.  It was once considered the first day of summer (with February 1 being heralded as the first day of spring).

Today, the thermometer hit 52 degrees (F) under cloudy skies and with intermittent showers.  And it was the day I saw the first forsythia bloom, however that was not in my yard.  I am still doubtful whether my forsythia is indeed alive to say nothing of whether it will bloom this year.

I have hopes a pop of warmer weather will pick up the pace and break the dormancy that seems to have several of my clematis and roses in a stranglehold.

There may be some serious plant removal going on about the time my Handsome Son returns from college and he can lend his foot to the shovel.

My Virginia bluebells are up at about 1 1/2" tall still a deep black purple and with unfurled leaves.  Both the plants above show signs of having made it through the brutal winter.  My trillium are up, but not yet blooming.  Corydalis are emerging also.It appears that while my Knock out rose may have died to the ground, they are still alive.

The bees are back in the neighborhood hive.  I don't think I have ever not had a tulip in bloom by the end of the first week in May.  This year the daffodils are still emerging.

No sign of life on the rose 'Eden' or clematis "Josephine'.