Late Lilacs

This is the latest that I've seen lilacs blooming that I can remember.  This has been a weird gardening season.  Over three days, seven inches of rain fell here. The rain has compacted my garden's soil, and everything is waterlogged.  We were lucky because we lost power for just five hours after strong storms.  My bok choy and spinach plants have bolted before they were ready to harvest.  (I will collect seeds for  a fall crop.)  Many seeds have simply rotted in the ground.  I had grand plans for my garden this year, like every year, but mother nature has the last word.  I chose this photo because if you look carefully, you'll see two bumblebees.  We love lilacs!

Hawthorn Blossoms

Everything is so slow this year--wild flowers, perennials, even cool weather crops like peas.  During this cool, wet spring, I have seen an occasional wasp or bumblebee, but nothing that makes me think many of our pollinators survived this winter.  However, yesterday as I was working outside, I heard a low but steady buzz, as though I were near a hive.  I searched the ground, I looked in crevices, and then I looked up.  Bees covered the wild hawthorn in full bloom. Bees may not have emotions, but they sounded happy.  And I am happy to bring you this garden update with good news.