End of May

We've never had the above in our garden before (not the Creeping Charlie, but the stuff in front). I think it's something in the mint family, but I couldn't be sure from the guidebooks what kind of mint it is.

Another new species in our garden! Maybe Early Meadow Rue?

We are going to be in London for the rest of May. Can't wait to see how many more surprises we will find in June in our by then even more untended garden and yard!

Please leave comments about what we're missing in the Madison growing season if you get a chance.

Dame's Rocket

I saw the first Dame's Rocket (another dreadful invasive!) of the year in our backyard today,


dandelions are already going to seed,


our daffodils are done flowering,


and grass is already going to seed!

I saw goslings and ducklings today. The season is moving along fast!

May Happenings

It seems like in the past week or so, everything has gotten very green. Most of the trees have leaves now.

I saw my first Baltimore Orioles on May 6, and the first Catbirds on May 11. I saw the last White-throated sparrows on May 7, and I have been seen larger numbers of White-crowned sparrows starting May 9.

In our yard, I found some milkweed yesterday:

I found the first honeysuckle blossoms in our yard today. All around town, I have been seeing honeysuckles starting to bloom over the past few days.


We went to the Arboretum yesterday, and we saw our first Wild Geraniums, Jacob's Ladder, Golden Alexanders and White Trillium of the year.

Wild Geranium

White Trillium

Jacob's Ladder

Golden Alexanders

Blossoms

The wild plum tree in our backyard is blooming,


so are some of our strawberries,


and our peach tree,


also our juneberry bush,


and our sweet cherry tree. All of these plants are in the rose family, I think. The flowers do all have a similar look about them.


Garlic mustard is also blooming.