Backyard
Gardener May Flowers Story & Photos by Kat Long/Contributing Writer
May is a fabulous month in Oklahoma. Well, for gardeners; for parents of graduating seniors, it is hectic; for parents of kids in sports, wow, talk about coordinating schedules. Throw in pandemic, vaccinations and the world wanting to get back to normal, whew, gardening is looking pretty good. May is also a time, and I mean this literally, to stop and smell, look and enjoy the flowers. Flowers and flowering plants are blooming everywhere; and they will not stay forever. So grab those graduating seniors, those sports kids that wolf down their dinner or snack to get to the next practice; heck, grab your best friend or hubby and stop to smell the flowers. Here is what’s blooming around town. First off, grab a picture in front of the Bradford Pear Trees. Nonexistent on the eating list, but man, are they beautiful. And then,
Dandelions Are My Favorite!!
check out a dandelion or two. Ode to the Dandelion You are sure to see the fabulous yellow dandelions everywhere; quickly replaced by the overnight sprouting of the puffballs, so enjoy their sunniness now. But dandelions are important for many reasons. First, they are a first food for bees. Please leave them for as long as your organizational heart will allow, as these early blooms give bees and other pollinators some quickly gathered pollen for themselves or the hive. Second, the yellow flowers are edible and can be stir-fried with other veggies, deep-fried and dipped First Apple in your favorite dip or just thrown on Blossoms in top of a salad for some beautiful, edible the Long Yard garnishment. And third, but not least, the puffballs have been entertaining kids for years. Do not deprive your littles of picking them and blowing the seeds to the wind. Fruit Trees Now is the season of fruit tree flowerings. Also, let us bow our heads for all the little blooms lost to that last freeze. I know some peach trees, nectarine trees and other early bloomers will not be bearing much or any fruit this year. However, I cannot contain my joy in announcing one of my
See BACKYARD Continued page 54 May 2021
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