Good-Bye April

"April showers bring May flowers."

Or so the saying goes. Actually, we've had plenty of both.

In the showers department, we've had 7 inches of rain so far this month, and it ain't over yet. It meant the filling of our new rain tank,

1550-gallon tank now full.

which meant hooking up one of our smaller totes at the top of the garden to catch overflow.

275-gallon water tote for overflow.

And in the flowers department?

Periwinkle continues to bloom.

As do violets

Honeysuckle is just getting started,

as are strawberries

although the wild roses seem about done.

First flowers on my rugosa rose bushes.

Yarrow

White clover has been blooming for the past couple of weeks.

This is either hop trefoil or hop clover, probably the former
because of its size. I'm pretty positive it's not black medic. It's
creating a lovely volunteer ground cover & therefore welcome.

Catsear, also known as false dandelion (dandelions are blooming too).

And this one is unidentified. It grows in the hedge at the
top of the garden, probably planted as a landscape plant.

Besides all the rain, I was relieved that it hasn't been as hot as April 2016. Last year we had mid- to upper-80s F (upper-20s C) for most of the month. Then May upped the ante by kicking into the upper-90s F (mid-30s C) and it stayed that way for the rest of the summer! Not that we have a choice, but I am so hoping that a cooler April means a more tolerable summer this year.

How are things in your neck of the woods?

at http://www.5acresandadream.com/