I absolutely love all gardens in the month of May because the green colors of the newly emerging plants are still fresh;; the weeds are still small; the spring flowers are welcoming; the compost has a rich black color, and my back doesn't hurt yet. I especially love the herb garden. Let's take a walk.
Lovage a perennial herb looking much like celery, is now about three inches tall. I dig out a bit of the clump near the edge to share with a friend. I am looking forward to making lovage soup from its leaves , potatoes, leeks, onions, and chicken broth. I smile every time I look at the lovage as I remember a lady I met from Warsaw Poland who told me it was an aphrodisiac. ...
The bedstraw is greening up. Soon it will be covered with bright yellow flowers which go well with the German chamomile which faithfully reseeds itself each year. The oregano has been green even under the snow and sends its underground stems under any plant growing nearby. I cut it back to the ground and it rewards me with strong stalks with an intense delicious fragrance, great for pizza.
All the monardas (beebalms) have reappeared but I am not too sure about the white. Only time will tell. The parsley sends up tiny green leaves. These must be from seeds that feel into the soil last autumn. I dig up the parsley plants from last year and put them in a container to go into compost. They have thick taproots which remind one that they are relatives of carrots but these roots are tough and virtually inedible.
I look over the thyme collection. Better cut them back as there was a lot of winter kill. This will force them to grow thicker.
My collection of sages: garden sage, Berggarten Sage, and pineapple sage, made it through the winter. I was worried because they don't like wet feet (OK, roots) and it took a long time for that part of the garden to dry up. The comfrey is back of course! I should replace it with something I actually use but I do love the flowers. It rewards me by returning and reflowering several times a season each time I cut it down.
I am wearing gloves as I cut back the stinging nettle. I am still debating whether or not to remove it. Stinging nettle is delicious when cooked but an aggressive grower. I was amazed last year to discover that Japanese beetles love it! I am very careful when I work around this plant. It has stinging hairs which release histamines and other nasty substances into the skin when touched. I feel the stinging in my skin for many hours after brushing the plant.
I love the green of the catmints especially Walker's Low. It will bloom soon into lovely blue-violet strapshaped flowers and will produce a second bloom if cut back. The catnip has made it through both the winter and cats who lay on the plants and nibble the leaves.
All of the herb garden has some hardneck garlic which was planted last October..It is so pretty at this time. On the top of each stalk is a scape,a curly part. On the top of this little bulbils grow. Some people think these are garlic flowers but garlic has lost the ability to flower!. I know I should cut them off because they are said to take away from the size of the garlic bulbs growing under the ground. I find them are so attractive that I find this difficult. I made a deal with myself a few years ago. I cut the bulbils.off about half of the stalks. In July the garlic will be ready for digging.
The mints are of course back. I take a shovel and dig them out where they have wandered... my fault entirely. They are just being mints, gregarious, plants. I can never bring myself to grow them in pots. I also let them flower for the bees and wasps.
How did I get so many angelicas? This biennial died after blooming last year. It was over five feet tall. There are at least fifty small angelica plants! I will dig and pot them up I know they will be well appreciated at plant sales.
Look at the lavender. I cut it back into green wood when the forsythias were blooming. The lavender plants looked like they had brush cuts. Now I see lots of new green growth and fresh new leaves. Look at the tansy. I really should dig it up right now and make some serious serious decisions about it. It probably should be moved.
Enough looking. I have compost to spread.