I began my entries into my 2024 Garden Journal for the month of May by stating that, “May is the month when we see the garden embrace summer with its brighter days and warmer nights. The garden responds by giving out lots of colour and powerful growth.”
Below this statement I shared 6 photos I took to show some parts of the garden, illustrating places where growth has been powerful.
On the opposite page I looked at the power of foliage, writing that “Fresh foliage brings life to a garden and here in our Avocet Garden early summer is the time for growth. Foliage opens fresh and glossy. By planting 2 or 3 different plants together, the similarities and differences come to light!’
The group of photos below illustrate this.
Over the page I looked at dark flowered perennials, writing “Dark coloured flowers look good at the moment, when sunlight catches petals and foliage. Such plants are often referred to as ‘chocolate’ or ‘black’.”
On the page opposite I shared my sketch of a fern frond with its delicately arranged leaflets. I noted that, “I took a division of a small fern we found in my Mother-in-Law’s garden. The fern drawing shows its actual size and ‘cristata’ formations.”
The next double page spread looks at white flowers and our roof garden.
Concerning white flowers I wrote, “Until the last few years I have not enjoyed or appreciated white as a flower colour. Slowly more have been planted and I feature a few. white coloured flora below.”
Our next port of call is our roof garden and I noted that, “At the moment our roof garden on top of the woodstore is looking at its very best.”
Back down to soil level again I next looked at one of our favourite perennials and then our May garden jobs.
Concerning Geums I commented that, “The perennial plants really providing colour in our borders are our Geums, giving bright hot colours – reds, oranges and yellows “.
On the page opposite our geums we shared our gardening jobs that needed doing. I wrote that, “May is a very busy month in the garden and we have managed to get a lot done.”
The final page of entries for my May garden journal is about some of the wildlife that shares the garden with us. I noted that, “Wildlife bursts onto the scene throughout May including a few unusual creatures.”
A Broad-bodied Chaser – first for our garden!
Angle Shades Moth. Cucumber Green Spider
Yellow-tailed Moth Caterpillar Ctenophora pectinicornis – Cranefly
That is it for my May entries into my Garden Journal 2024. I will look again at the journal in June.
greenbenchramblings 
One reply on “My Garden Journal 2024 May”
Malc, your wife and you’ve done an excellent job documenting the garden. Love your drawing of the fern. I have never grown Geums but am becoming interested. They seem delightful.