Pictured: A plethora of Camas down in the swamp 5/3/26.
| It’s been in the 60’s and 70’s most of the week and no rain. Clouds coming and going, but lots of sun too. Prime weather for lots of flowers! Enjoy! Amy | Table of Contents: ~ Garden Guides! ~ ~ Phenology: The Seasons Through Blooms! ~ ~ Spying on Nature! ~ ~ Livestock News ~ ~ Thank You! ~ |
~ Garden Guides! ~
The first blooms of the Hawthorn means it’s time to start planting the summer crops as the danger of hard frost is mostly past. Plant root crops (onions, garlic, beets, carrots, etc), bulbs, tubers, perennials, trees, shrubs during the waning gibbous moon (Full moon through the Last Quarter moon). This is also the time to prune for encouraging stronger roots and managing vigorous growth.
I’ve compiled a list of planting dates for 2026 based on the moon phases:
2026 Planting Guide – Zones 7/8
Here is the advice for this week:
After 10:22pm May 1st to before 2:11am May 9th (waning gibbous moon) – Plant outdoors: chives, parsnips, potatoes, sweet potatoes. Transplant: chrystanthemums for fall color. Prune – lilacs, rhododendrons and azaleas after blooms are spent.
After 2:11am May 10th to before 1:02am May 16th (waning crescent moon) – Let the garden rest, prepare irrigation systems for summer. Mulch perennial beds to preserve water.
~ Phenology: The Seasons Through Blooms! ~
Sunday, May 3rd, was set to be a hot one so Shane and I decided to do the woods walk in the morning before the heat came on. Plants blooming this week: Sheep Sorrel (Rumex acetosella), Oregon Iris (Iris tenax), Small Camas (Camassia quamash), Common Wintercress (Barbarea vulgaris), Woodland Forget-me-not (Myosotis sylvatica), Marsh Pea (Lathyrus palustris), Creeping Buttercup (Ranunculus repens). Also blooming were Lavender, Chives, Exbury Azalea, and Sweet William.
Also went meandering along the hillside and wanted a picture of this Maple tree. It’s taken some hits between ice storms, wind storms and what-not over the years!
~ Spying on Nature! ~
I made a video of the Hawthorn tree in bloom along with views down the hill into the swamp and the multitude of Camas blooming in the swamp!
A young bobcat came by for a visit this week and last week! So excited to see them anytime! Had an oddball visit from an opossum during the day. They are supposed to be nocturnal I thought!
~ Livestock News ~
Don’t forget the monthly Homestead Happenings: Livestock Edition that goes out the first of each month!
The latest:
Homestead Happenings April 2026: Livestock Edition
~ Thank You! ~
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The blog is a sampling of all the photos I’ve taken this month.
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We’ll see you all again May 11th for the next Homestead Happenings: Flowers & Nature, where there will be even more Garden guidance as planting starts to amp up and more will be blooming in the woods! Don’t forget, the next Homestead Happenings: Livestock Edition for May will come out June 1st, where lambs will get their final weights before finding new homes!
Hollow Hills Ranch 
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