Members
It's May Flowers
by Kat Long, Staff Writer / Staff Writer
The following article appeared in the print issue of Ponca City Monthly magazine, which includes hyperlocal stories about Ponca City. Get full access to all online articles, videos, and content by becoming a paid subscriber. We offer free and paid subscription plans. Find rack locations to pick up your free print copy here, or subscribe here to get online access plus exclusive content.
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. For those of us that are grandparents, we just might squeeze in some gardening between all the things. And of course, take a moment to take in 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 take a stroll to admire Mother Nature’s prettiness.
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 the 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 dunked in your favorite dip or just thrown on top of a salad for some beautiful, edible 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. If you were lucky, none of the possible freezes took out any of your blooms. Peaches should be amazing this year as well as plums and let’s hope, apples. One of the apple trees in my yard is covered in lovely pinkish blossoms. Again with the hope that each of those turns into a lovely apple. The plum tree that I was supposed to cut down
(I just couldn’t do it people!), got a really good trim in February and seems to be surviving. It has little plums all over it. Only time will tell if it is getting back to normal or if this is its last hoorah before I HAVE TO cut it down. As with most things gardening: time will tell.
Fruit Plants
My blackberries were nonexistent last year. I now know that every three years, blackberries take a break from producing fruit. I have purchased two more plants to add to the yard in the hopes of more fruit this year. The sand cherries, which look like wild flowered bushes right now, should have a bumper crop since I trimmed them back quite a bit when I chopped the plum tree. Sand cherries are a cousin of sand plums and though small, are quite delicious in baked goods like coffeecake.
The other fruit in the yard is the fig tree. I ate five figs off the plant last year and I am hoping for even more this year.
Flowers
For those of you who have perennial plants, say hello to all the flowers for me. Irises, tulips, daffodils, crocus, violets and sage just to name a few. So many flowers; so little time. But make the time. For all of us working on the annual plantings, you never know when an annual may pop up and surprise you. The sunflowers are returning to the yard in force. I will have them in a bucket by the sidewalk again this year for anyone to grab and put in the ground. These are second and third-generation sunflowers and are really hard to kill. Promise.
Buying Plants
Two of my favorite places to get plants locally are Greenfields by Smith Home Furnishings and The Herb Festival here in Ponca City. And I have added two new local suppliers: Sunny Creek Trading Post and The Painted Leaf in Newkirk. Sunny Creek started 12 seed varieties for me at $10 per seed pack (three plants if they made). The Painted Leaf will soon have for sale all the flowers for your yard including marigolds, zinnias and, I hope, nasturtiums. The Painted Leaf also has all the houseplants you could possibly need for yourself, housewarming gifts or get-well thoughts. Follow Sunny Creek and The Painted Leaf on Facebook.
And mark your calendars for Herb Festival at LA Cann Gardens on June 1st. Pace yourself because that weekend is a doozy: The Farmer’s Market opening weekend, Sunny Dayz Mural Fest,Touch-A-Truck, and the Library’s summer reading kick-off, are also that day. Should be a fantastic weekend.
Take time to check out the LA Cann Gardens themselves sometime this spring and summer when all the plants are in bloom. The City Parks & Rec and the Kay County Master Gardeners do an amazing job of keeping the beds looking great, adding new plants and answering questions.
Grab a few minutes for yourself this month. Smell the flowers; plant some plants and get your hands dirty. Your soul will thank you. It may even give you some patience for everything and everyone else. And of course, Happy Gardening
➡️ Opt in or out of different newsletters on your “My Account” page.
➡️ Learn more about Ponca City Monthly+
Ponca City Monthly is a locally owned publication that delivers hyperlocal news in print and online.
Like what we are doing? Feel free to forward this along and tell a friend.
Sponsorship information/customer service: email editor@poncacitymonthly.com