You know what they say- April showers bring May flowers, and beauty in the garden.

May is the most beautiful month for delicate garden blooms, such as hydrangeas, roses, digitalis, and other mid to late spring beauties. Pansies are starting to become leggy and their blooms begin to fade with the heat. Snapdragons drop their flowers and wait for their next bloom cycle. Tall bloomers like speedwell and salvia hold onto their tiny flowers and provide a gorgeous and bold contrast to an otherwise pink, yellow, and red backdrop of petals.

With the heat in the coming months, and no doubt dry spells, the beauty of heat-tolerant favorites such as coneflower, zinnia, coreopsis, lantana, and petunias will fill my gardens and flower beds. Impatients and mandavilla will thrive in the shade and partial sun containers on my patio, and the herbs and vegetables will fill our pots and our tummies with flavorful and healthy meal additions.

As much as I love the fall season, I cannot deny the joy and happiness that comes from hard work in the garden. Seeing the results of our labor is such as gift, and food for our souls.