Fa-la, 'tis May, the merry month of May! That naughty month where everyone goes blissfully astray!"

Sorry; we couldn't help bursting into song, because with the onset of May, Northern New Mexico gardeners are reassured that spring is finally here at last.

May's the month for final winter garden cleanup, purchasing necessary hardscaping, repairing and replacing tools, preparing plant beds and containers, starting seeds, hardening off plants you've been growing indoors for outside use, and — particularly after May 10, the last official frost date for the Santa Fe area — planting, planting, planting!

There are lots of happy activities vying for our attention this month, so let's dive right in ...

Elegant Martha Washington geraniums —also  as known as Regal, Royal, Lady Washington or French geraniums — are cool- and shade-loving hybrid relatives of the heat- and sun-loving common garden geranium (Pelargonium ×domesticum).   The common name is derived from a popular variety introduced by that name in the United States in the early 1900's.

Spring, Summer, Fall or Winter, fruit trees always have something special to offer.

Spring: delicate white or pink blossoms. Summer: the main attraction — fruit! Fall: gorgeous leaves of gold and red. Winter? Yes! Birds use them for perches and for food (crab apples have small fruits in fall/winter).

New to tree planting?

Click here for Payne's guide to
How To Plant a Tree.

  Subscribers to Payne's weekly Green Thumb Gazette newsletter get exclusive discounts as well as timely information, helpful advice and recommendations. For example, this week's newsletter included advance notice of our houseplant sale and a coupon for 25% off all indoor plants.

  We also feature a "Plant of the Week" to introduce various trees, shrubs, flowers, vines and tropical plants to our readers. And, after their time in the spotlight, these plants can be found by clicking on the "Plant of the Week" tab above. There are descriptions and care instructions for more than 40 plants we've featured so far.

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