Garden Journal

May 15

Spring has finally arrived at our place. The soil warmed up enough to start planting. I put out some perennials first — hostas, peonies, and a few zinnia seeds I saved from last year. The zinnias always germinate slowly, taking two to three weeks to push through the earth. Patience is part of gardening.

The compost bin is working well this season. Kitchen scraps, autumn leaves from the maple tree out back, and a layer of straw between each batch. It turns dark and crumbly in about eight weeks. I turn it every ten days.

May 20

A few zinnia sprouts appeared today — delicate little stems with the first pair of leaves. The peonies are putting out thick green shoots. The hostas are still waiting; they always come late.

I spent the evening reading about companion planting. Marigolds near tomatoes. Basil near peppers. Nothing about zinnias though — they're ornamental, I suppose. Some gardeners use them to attract pollinators.

May 28

The zinnias are about six inches tall now. Bright pink and white mixed. They're growing where the afternoon sun hits hardest — full sun, good drainage. The other plants are doing well too. The garden is coming together nicely.

I noticed the soil near the zinnia patch stays a bit drier than the rest. Maybe it's the drainage, or maybe they're just thorough drinkers. Either way, they're thriving.

Seasonal garden notes.