Those tomatoes you planted in early March are flowering, promising a bumper crop. Daylilies are blooming. Hummingbirds are dominating your feeders, Turk’s Cap, and other high-nectar flowers. If you’re putting out birdseed, doves (I’ve had four species in my yard at one time), chick-a-dees, mockingbirds, wrens, woodpeckers, American goldfinches, cardinals, blue birds, tufted titmouse (titmice? titmouses?), jays, house sparrows, and black-bellied whistling ducks and at times, birds that are not indigenous to our zones.
Now’s a good time to plant herbs. Put in perennials like rosemary, thyme, Mexican mint marigold, chives, and oregano. Make sure you add some compost to your herb area. Don’t forget to put in annual herbs like basil, (there are many different types of basil and you may want to experiment with several different varieties. Dill, tarragon, lemon balm, and thyme. Herbs like at least 6 hours of direct sunlight and good drainage.
Make sure you follow directions for fertilization and watering. If your soil doesn’t drain properly, try raised beds. Also, you might want to look into no-till gardening.
