May Be a Busy Month - May 2026

 May 4 -5 -  Tree swallows have returned to the Martin House to raise their families. Time to finish prepping and plant the summer crops.

May 8 - Hike at Norris Lake, but we took a wrong turn on the trail.  Good Day anyway, but no wildflowers.

May 15 - Planted and mulched!  Green peas, tomatoes, green beans, purple hull peas, yellow squash, okra

May 16 

May 16 - Being present in Lenoir City to support Democracy!

                   

          

May 19 - Day trip to Pickett CCC Memorial State Park near Jamestown, TN.  The hikes were awesome, with special emphasis on the rock structures. We also enjoyed seeing the original CCC structures, built in the 1930s, and picnicing beside the peaceful lake.

Endangered Cumberland Sandwort, found only in this park.  Unfortunately it was not blooming.

The trail was lined with mountain laurel

The hike was short, but there were a lot of steps back up to the parking lot!

May 22 - Foggy mountain morning at home.  We are blessed to live in such a beautiful setting.

May 24 - Bridal shower for Claire (at Trinity UMC)

May 25 - Garden is  producing lots of greens for the table.

Spring is Springing - April 2026

Chaucer's April showers brought May flowers, but in Tennessee, the flowers come earlier.  April is planting time and the weather is usually perfect for outdoor activities (if there are no showers!).

April 1 - Dogwood in front of the house is in full bloom.

April 3 - Laura and I had a delightful paddle on Melton Hill Lake.  It has been a while since I've been out on the lake in the kayaks.  

April 9 - We went to Cape Girardeau for a few days with the kids.

April 17 - Garden prep work with a little encouragement from a sparrow.

April 18 - Rosini Festival, Market Square, Knoxville

April 24 - Wildflower walk at the UT Arboretum in Oak Ridge with Trinity friends.

April 24 - Garden progress

 

Garden season begins - March 2026

March 6

Aspargus to be

Prepping

March 16

                                       

March 25

Lettuce sets

Wisteria - hope for the future

Dogwood

 

Reflection Riding Arboretum

 March 4 - Bill and I took a day trip to Reflection Riding Arboretum in Chattanooga.  There were not spectacular views and we were late for spring wildflowers, but we enjoyed a pleasant walk and picnic.