The old adage—”April showers bring May flowers”—doesn’t quite apply here in Central Florida. I sweat more than the scant rain we receive all month. Yet, despite the dryness, my garden bursts with color and life. Wildflowers flaunt vibrant coats of red, purple, yellow, orange, and white. Caterpillars munch on milkweed, fattening up before transforming into Monarchs, Giant Swallowtails, and Gulf Fritillary butterflies.
Cardinals, blue jays, sparrows, and the stunning painted buntings land on my bird feeders, fill their beaks, and take off more efficiently than commuter jets stacked on an airport runway. The visuals are stunning—far more attractive, though no less satisfying, than my rather bland-looking edibles.
As the calendar flips to May, my tomatoes and cucumbers wind down. Their abundant organic goodness has delighted the appetites of my family and neighbors. There’s nothing like sharing goodness from the garden.
I know my ebullient nature over my natural wonderland may not sit well with those of you dealing with spring frost, waiting—tick tock—to get your knuckles and fingernails dirty for planting season. If spring patience is a virtue, I have none. I’m well on my way, growing melons and beans for the summer season. Happy harvesting!
