There’s an old saying, “April showers bring May flowers” and May is certainly bursting with flowers. If you follow me on Instagram, you’ll have seen me sharing many pictures of my garden in bloom. And I’ve been really delighted with everything that is blooming in the garden.
I feel truly blessed that my husband and I found such a charming, well maintained home from the 1950s. The interior is charming, with wood flowers and a wonderful gas fireplace but with a more modern kitchen and a cozy family room where we watch TV. And the yard has very well established garden, full to the brim of lovely flowers and trees, making our yard an oasis of nature that we both find so relaxing and peaceful. Back in April, I said I didn’t know exactly what was in the garden, but I have a much better understanding of everything now.
Trees and Bushes
In the back yard, we have several cedar trees, as well as a sugar maple or two and a beech tree. These trees provide a lot of privacy and cool the yard, which is perfect as you can enjoy the sunshine a little more if you have breeze and shade. We also have lilacs in the yard, one of which is already in bloom and the fragrance of which is just so soothing. We also have a spruce tree and some other shrub like trees I haven’t been able to identify just yet.
My favourite has to be the Japanese maple tree, which is a lovely laceleaf variety. In the winter, we often saw bunnies nestled beneath it–and sometimes I hear them rustling about it now.
Flowers and Blooming Things
I have sooo many blooms and flowers in my garden! We have a huge section of forget me nots on one side of the garden, which delighted me as I love these little flowers. We had some tulips and daffodils, and now the columbines are in bloom. There’s several hostas as well, but so far none have flowered, they are just filling out. A lot. But one plant I thought was a hosta is actually honey garlic, and watching it grow and bloom has been interesting. I did plant some lily of the valley in the front garden, as there was really no room in the back, but I haven’t planted much at all because the garden is already so lush.
We have some flowering bushes as well, one is likely a weigela. It seems like every time I turn around in the garden, something else has bloomed! Which is fine with me, I’m tickled pink watching it all come to life.
Herbs
I wasn’t expecting our garden to have herbs! I have always wanted to grow some herbs, and made a few attempts in my condo to do so, but I failed both times to grow herbs in pots. But in my garden, I already have oregano growing, and chives as well. I have planted some garlic (primarily because I saw that they have lovely flowers) and I did plant some lavender in the front yard as there is more space.
I have thought about planting some herbs in the upper part of the garden, where there are boxes but that area is mostly shade and has been very wet given the amount of rainfall we have had and the slope of the land. I’m also not sure what herbs to plant. I have to give it some more thought!
Caring for the Garden
To be honest, I’m not a gardener. I mean, I don’t know what I’m doing. I have a bit of knowledge, but when it comes to caring for trees and shrubs, I have a lot to learn. And I can tell that we need to cull some of the plants back there–the hostas seem out of control to me. But I think we’ll do that either next season or at the end of this season. Right now we are just trying to get an idea of what is there and maintaining the garden. We don’t really want to start ripping things out until we see what we like and also, what needs attention. There is one tree way at the back that had been cut back quite a lot and is nearly entirely dead, so that will need attention.
May has been wonderful, and we continue to marvel at the beauty and lushness of our garden. We enjoy sitting out and chatting while Baby J plays, and we have both taken some time to just rest our eyes on the lovely green goodness that is nature. Nature is so beautiful and soothing.
Have gardening tips for me? Drop them below!