The month of May toddled along, seemingly unsure of whether or not it wished to commit fully to the season of spring. In spite of cool conditions, the orchards began to wake up. The blossoms filled the air with ambrosial sweetness, inviting visitors to linger and enjoy, especially when a bit of sunlight joined in the welcome.

This week we are tackling the late emerging plants like hardy kiwis and pawpaws, and cleaning up the spent rugosa rose and blackberry brambles.

The roses had some pest damage last year, so we're burning the dead canes to reduce pest pressure. We use these for gathering rose hips, so I want to make sure they get some TLC. Last year we got a bit behind on things and they were rather neglected. Rugosas are tough, but these particular plants are in an exposed spot on a hill, so they take a pounding from the wind. Couple that with dry conditions, and they were not happy.

The older blackberry patch is easier to manage since we made the rows a little narrower, but the thorns still have a bite. It looks like our new patch of thornless Doyle blackberries survived the winter, so I'm looking forward to seeing how those take off once the weather warms up.

Our beehive made it through the winter, too, and the ladies have been enjoying the fresh food after a long winter. Before the orchard trees, shrubs like haskaps and Cornelian cherries provided them with some of their first fresh food of the season. One of our ongoing goals is extending the pollen and nectar season, including plants like witch hazel, which blooms in the fall, and hazelnuts, which provide pollen as early as March.

We have family coming over for Mother's Day brunch, so I'd best sign off and get the duck patrol in and my kitchen cleaned up. To all the moms, have a blessed day.

This Week’s Resilience & Abundance Boost

• Tend what was neglected. Whether it’s plants, tools, relationships, or your own health, steady care can often restore more than we expect.
• Work with the seasons, not against them. Cool springs, dry spells, and shifting weather are reminders to stay flexible and adapt rather than force the pace.
• Support the pollinators. Planting a diversity of blooming plants helps sustain bees and beneficial insects from early spring through fall.
• Prune for better growth. Clearing out damaged or overcrowded growth makes room for healthier, more productive seasons ahead - in the garden and in life in general.
• Gather while the blooms are fresh. Take time to enjoy the beauty and fragrance of the season before it slips past — a walk through blooming trees can nourish the spirit as much as the harvest nourishes the pantry.

Resilience grows through patient tending, caring for what sustains us season after season.

All our best to you and yours,

Laurie (and August IV, August V, and Duncan)

This week's featured articles...

This old-fashioned seven layer salad will take you back to simpler times of church suppers, family reunions, graduation parties, and backyard cookouts.

We dug up the parsnips out of the garden recently, so I thought it was a good time to mention this often forgotten vegetable. I love that they can hold in the ground all winter and give us one of the first fresh harvests of spring.

Speaking of gardening, these next garden guests are not very welcome. I'm talking about squash vine borers. If you want to eliminate them in your garden, one of the most important steps happens at planting time.

With the recent hantavirus scare, I thought it was a good time to review how to safely clean up rodent droppings and debris.

Mother's Day Sale - $50 off mixers + 25% off select attachments at Nutrimill.com. Sale ends May 11th.