Spring is fickle this season, showing off beautiful blooming trees, then retreating as temperatures fall and frost coats the greened grass and tentative growth on hydrangeas. As I write, I am anxiously watching the forecast, wondering if I’ll need to cover my budding peonies and newly planted clarkia or whether they will survive just fine without assistance from me.
And, of course, reading the news from Ukraine, thinking of how my very ordinary days would be utterly changed if I lived there has me and so much of the world hoping and praying for peace.
Flowers offer hope to us all, as they continue to grow no matter the weather or the world. If the Clarkia doesn’t make it, I know the Sweet William will, and after that the Orlaya and peonies, and then in turn will give way to the summer blooms of zinnias and celosia and sunflowers.
Sunflowers will be stars this summer, and are already cropping up on social media as countless people choose those bright blooms as a show of support for Ukraine. Each golden circle seems now filled with hope for a more peaceful future.
What’s Available Locally in May: This list is by no means comprehensive, just a sampling of what growers in our area may have this month.
Lilac, Deutzia, Bleeding Heart, Hellebores, Viburum, Lily of the Valley, sweet peas, stock, sweet William, Bupleurem, Peo-ny, Campanula, Baptisia, Mock Orange, Cornflower, Ranunculus. Also ask your local growers about dried flowers and wreaths – many dry their harvest!
Care Tips for Lily of the Valley (Convallaria majalis) – These delicate flowers add a heady fragrance to arrangements and bouquets. They can be stored in a cooler for a few days, and their vase life is typically five to seven days.