I’m a happy lass when the month of May finally arrives.
Although temperatures in London can vary from year to year, generally speaking, May tends to bring with it enough sunlight to wake up my dormant plants and convince them that it’s time to get on with the business of growing.
This year, we’ve been fortunate enough to get a warm, dry Spring, with plenty of sunshine- which makes rising early something of a joy. What could be nicer than an early morning gander around the garden with a cup of tea in hand?
There’s always something new to see! And hear. A cheerful, male blackbird has become a regular morning visitor, perched high above me on a particular chimney pot, where he serenades me awake with a particularly impressive range of whistles and trills. The song of the blackbird really is a delightful sound. (You can read a story about a Blackbird here! https://angelajelf.com/2025/05/22/the-art-of-brevity-a-story-in-50-words/)
Occasionally, I get to witness a free aerodynamic display, courtesy of the Swifts, who reappear around the start of May every year. (You can read a poem about them here: https://every-day-encounters.blog/2022/05/17/the-swifts/)
A few times this month, I’ve also been rewarded for having risen early by a flock of Canada Geese, flying in V formation overhead and honking their ‘Good Morning!’
And as for the flowers…well… I’ll just let the photos do the talking.
1st – 5th May
These Iris, which were originally dug up from my mum’s garden, are the first flowers to bloom- and they never cease to amaze me!
They always remind me of the words of Jesus:
And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field and how they grow; they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. (Matt 6:28-29)
8th – 15th May
The yellow rose pictured here is a fairly new edition- it’s got an unusual saucer-shaped flower and bears the name: ‘Tottering By Gently’ which is very apt when you see it fluttering on the breeze! I’m so pleased it’s flowered at the same time as the Iris this year. The colours, being on the opposite side of the colour wheel, look so beautiful together.
15th – 20th May
It’s lovely to see the hardy geraniums starting to fill out and flower – and to count up all the rose-buds, which are on the cusp of opening.
One thing gardening never fails to teach me, is patience. A rose simply won’t be rushed – and that’s all there is to it.
It’s also lovely to have a constant companion, in the form of Honey, our six month Labrador Pup.
I hope you enjoyed this little virtual walk around the garden!
EVERYDAY ENCOUNTERS 