It's occurred to me lately how much I feel manipulated by holidays: Mother's/Father's for the facile commercialism, Easter for the facile religiosity, Valentine's because it's just a pink puff ball of stupidity...
(On a side note, my husband is quick to remind me that I'm the kind of currently middle-aged person who's likely to turn into that really mean old lady who scares the neighbourhood kids.)
But I've got nothing bad to say about the May 2-4, even if it does fall on a different date every year. Note: Apparently, it has this name because it celebrates Queen Victoria's bday (which 100 years ago was relevant, I suppose). It's also a nod to the Canadian pastime of beer-drinking, an activity I've never embraced. This is the weekend when the rich peeps open their cottages in Muskoka and the regular peeps try to fix their winter-ravaged gardens and those without a particular love of nature sit on patios on dusty streets and feel blessed, to their bones, that there's some fucking green fuzz on the trees.
In southern Ontario, you don't plant anything until this weekend. To wit: We had a frost warning 2 nights ago. Seriously, plant at your own peril. The fact that we often get a week of 30C weather in early May, on the heels of 5 months of hideous cold, is a mind-fuck that propels even the most level-headed gardener to take the plunge at least twice.
I've been walking around in a daze of gratitude for temps that only require a sweater and a light jacket (ok, and a scarf - but a light one!), observing that every lilac in the land has bloomed - except mine?!
Here's how it looked on May 2:
Here's where we're at today:
Mind you, it's on the right track and I have a feeling, if the weather cooperates - and it's supposed to - I might have a gorgeous, deliciously fragrant cloud of purple flowers by Monday.
And since Frances asked, here's how the garden's shaping up this spring:
It's not the Luxembourg Gardens, but it's my own piece of outdoor tranquility, in a densely populated city, and I value it beyond measure.
How's your garden - or weekend - shaping up?
PS: I def have to get some herbs for those planters this weekend. So I suppose I will do something after all.
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Am feeling very nostalgic after seeing pictures of your garden! No long weekend here but I think we get one next weekend...? American holidays are unfortunately not yet ingrained! As an aside, I think it's only called May 2-4 in Ontario. We just called it May long weekend in BC.
ReplyDeleteAw! We've had some fun times in that garden - and will do again. And thanks for reminding me that it's not the 2-4 everywhere. My BC friend Nicole is always telling me that!
DeleteI had to laugh about us Northerners losing our heads in early May. So true. Here in Southeast Alaska (we're the milder maritime bit) Spring is composed of thaw- light frost- thaw- hard frost - glorious mild sun - harder frost. Very few plants will put up with that shit.
ReplyDeleteFirst weekend in May I always find myself milling round the garden centers with others, all trying to keep our heads. The trepidation in the air is palpable. Then someone breaks & starts loading down their cart with ill-advised Zone 5 perennials, & others follow. Just like in winter when the first intrepid soul walks onto the frozen lake, & everyone else - for no rational reason- assumes that person must have some secret knowledge & follows.
Full disclosure: this year, that person was me. Long, dreary winter, & I just kinda snapped & mauled the delphinium section - which, in my defense, at least are Zone 3; I didn't completely lose touch with reality this year.
OK - you get it!! I love that! And sometimes we just have to load up the cart with the pretty flowers because, Lord, the misery of so many months. I'm really starting to understand why people snap eventually and live out their old years in personality-free, warm zones.
Delete2-4, eh? For the most part it's called May-long here, unless we are being formal, then Monday is still Victoria Day.
ReplyDeleteWe had a lovely day today and I bought some tomato plants even tho' I know a Colorado low is likely to dump snow on us tomorrow.
Maybe this 2-4 thing is just in southern Ontario?! I swear, that's what we all call it. I just assumed that's what everyone called it! Damn snow. You guys really have it tough.
DeleteOh, we have a 2-4 here too. That's a case of 24 bottles of beer. ;)
DeleteMy lilacs have bloomed and gone in Colorado, so I'm jealous of your late blooms! Your garden looks lovely.
ReplyDeleteThank you - believe it or not, the weather got cold again and the tree has still not fully bloomed!
DeleteThank you, thank you, and merci! I love the way your garden is maturing, just gorgeous, so stylish. It was so neat so see the bones laid out a few years ago and here's proof that working a garden methodically is the way to go. As opposed to intuitive, organic, and messy, which is more my style, sadly.
ReplyDeleteWhy thank you. I am pretty happy with it though it's going to take a hit (to what extent I can't say) when we pull off the back of the house. And I can't think of that because I'm so not prepared (on any level) that it stresses me out. Lalalalala.
DeleteYour garden is SUPERB. It's so beautiful and natural in the most natural and beautiful place imaginable. To try to curb nature (with lots of trimming) in that place would be crazy.
I love the colors of your garden.
ReplyDelete