May Day

One of the Celtic cross-quarter days, May Day occurs half way between the Spring equinox and the Summer solstice. May first is the day on which children deliver may baskets to their neighbors front door, ring the doorbell or knock then run and hide. When the door is opened, the person can hear the giggles erupting from the deliverer. I remember doing this and having such fun! Young children growing up in small towns in Iowa, as I did, learned with ease how to entertain themselves.

My May Basket for 2023

Now that I am older I deliver no lomger deliver may baskets. This past Sunday, however, I did purchase "may flowers" from Singing Frog Farm at the Sebastopol Farmers Market. And when I go out to my garden, I see "may flowers": 

Viola odorata (Wild violet)

Lonicera involucrata (Twinberry honeysuckle)
which was Dwight's all time very favorite bush.
There were a half dozen planted
in the creek bed at MuRefuge.

Penstemon heterophyllus
(Blue Bedder penstemon ‘Margarita BOP’)
I learned a funny (well to me)
thing about this name, principally 
that "BOP" stands for  "back of porch".

When I am out in the front, watering the thirsty plants like the Sisyrinchium californicum (Yellow eyed grass) and the Twinberry, I often have a frequent belly

Scorching

Viewing a spectacular early morning from 
the dining room double doors.

                                           I do so love what I call "popcorn" clouds.

This week here in Northern California the temperatures outside have been scorching hot . . . literally. My outside thermometer has read as high as 118 degrees in the mid afternoon . . . yikes!  It has been too hot to be outside caring for the garden. I do water either right after breakfast or in the late evening. Last evening as I tended the garden in the rear of the house I discovered all of the Scarlett Runner beans leaves essentially fried. I cut them to the ground and transported them to my compost pile.

The Stupice tomato plant in the
East most raised bed.
The tomatoes do not
seem to be affected.
The leaves on the other hand
are another story.

The single rhubarb plant,
a cultivated plant of the dock family,
that grows beneath the plum tree.
As you can see the leaves
have indeed been fried by 
the hot temperatures
now stretching almost into a week.

The recently planted lemon tree in the front yard is looking very droopy inspite of regular morning watering. I do hope it not only survives but flourishes since its name is "Dwight"! Tanis decided we should call this lemon tree she brought me Dwight since he is the person who really wanted a Meyers Lemon Tree growing in our garden.

Lonicera involucrata (Twinberry honeysuckle)
planted last Fall against the West
outside wall of the garage.
The most recent leaves have
been seared by the hot,
hot, hot sun.

Luckily the temperatures are to be returning to "normal" (mid '80's) for this time of the year by early next week. I have noticed that each day the temperatures are a bit lower than the previous day. For those who believe "climate change" is a hoax, they are now experiencing often drastic changes in their previously usual everyday weather.

On this note of accepting our changing climate AND doing something about it . . . those who live in Sonoma County (and I am sure elsewhere in Northern California) are early adopters. When we sought a replacement for our Subaru whose engine needed replacing, I had my heart set on Prius, a used one of course. We did find one and purchased it on the spot. Shasta was none to sure since she could not tell when the engine was on then turned off. She asked Sandy, "how am I suppose to protect the car?" 

At that time Prius was the chosen car people to reduce fuel consumption thus affecting the production of greenhouse gases. Presently, as I am about the county, I find the chosen car is Tesla. I see them plugged in at the local charging station as well as in people's driveways. I am sure those of you who live elsewhere are finding similarities.

                                    Monardella villosa (Coyote mint ‘Russian River’),
                                        Epolibium canum  (California fuschsia ‘Calistoga’,
                                                          & bird bath Dwight created.

                                  These plants seem unaffected by the hot temperatures.

With this incredible heat I am so fortunate that we decided to install air conditioning when we had our ducts and furnace replaced. The house remains fairly cool. When I get up in the very early morning, I shut all the windows and pull the window coverings down. Still my "crazy" dog Shasta likes to have an outside regular midday "baking" in the sun. When she's in the house she finds the coolest spot . . . "go figure" my long time friend Lynette would say.

As I walk about the garden and survey how the literally baking hot temperatures are affecting the  garden, to blunt the sadness, I have a frequent