It’s been a bit of a weird year flower-wise at Ephemera Farm. Overall, plants bloomed later. Our first Baptisia alba (white wild indigo) flowers that emerged were partially aborted. They then responded by sending up a second flush, which made them bloom a bit later. One of my Amsonia hubrichtii (thread-leaf bluestar) waited until late April to emerge. It’s currently in full flower in mid-May instead of mid-April. And, my beloved Penstemon murrayanus (coral penstemon) were also much weaker in habit.
I attribute these observations to a moody February. We had half a week of temperatures above 80°F (one day was 88°F!), followed by a drop to 17°F on February 19th. My guess is the warmth began coaxing the plants out of dormancy, and they were stunted with the cold snap.
Don’t get me wrong. We still had an incredible April as seen in the header image above. It just felt different than previous years. And, I probably still have some lingering anxiety about the aborted Baptisia flowers from a late freeze we had that wiped the plants out a few years ago. It is a dominant anchor during our floral peak, and the round mounds with seed pods above helped carry us through the May gap. Its absence was especially noticeable that year.
However, I realized that even if the Baptisia were gone this year, I’ve really plugged the May gap by filling the garden with plants like Echinacea purpurea (purple coneflower), Hydrangea quercifolia (oakleaf hydrangea), Monarda stipitatoglandulosa (Ouachita beebalm), Rudbeckia maxima (giant coneflower), and Salvia farinacea ‘Henry Duelberg’ (mealy-cup sage) that help carry us through post-peak bloom. By filling the May gap I’ve lessened the effect that the climate can have on one particular wave of bloom, and these plants also help maximize seasonal interest later.
Gaps are periods in the garden where not much captures the eye, nourishes wildlife, or invites engagement. They have often been discussed from the perspective of annual displays. In Succession Gardening for Adventurous Gardeners, Christopher Lloyd wrote about the June gap in English gardens that occur after the winter and spring bedding fades and discussed approaches to mind the gap.
Gaps also exist in naturalistic plantings. And, coming at it from the ecological side of things, a lack of flowers can mean less nectar or pollen for insects and animals in the garden. They can occur in early spring, post-peak bloom, the height of summer when it is hot and dry, or even into autumn and winter. Gaps tend to be an issue especially later in the year because we gardeners either front load the garden with too much for spring and summer or we forget to think forward to autumn and winter, times when the garden needs strong elements to carry us through the last days of the growing season.
I filled our May gap by really paying attention in the garden. I asked the question, “What do I want to see that isn’t here?” I paid attention to views and spaces where we spent our time. Then, I set about identifying and propagating species that could help me fix what was missing.
It takes planning and time to reconcile the gaps we encounter in gardens. We often have to think months ahead because it takes time for plants to grow and develop. Sure, I could go to the garden center and buy plants, but questions arise about cost, availability, and numbers needed. To achieve the effects we want in naturalistic plantings, we typically need large numbers. Plus, it takes time for perennials and woodies to establish to give the garden that feeling of permanence.
There are decisions that I make at this time of the year to maximize seasonal interest for later. Mid-May is a key time for me to complete tasks in my garden to minimize potential gaps in the future.
I cut back our asters and other fall-flowering perennials like Helianthus sp. (sunflower), Coreopsis tripteris (tall coreopsis), and Hyptis alata (clustered bush mint). Some asters are actually blooming now due to enough vegetative material being up during short days earlier this year.
Most of our winter annual self sowers and ephemerals are now finished with bloom and are going to seed. I collect what seed I can that I want to propagate for later, and I remove their tattered stems to freshen the beds.
I cut back our Carex texensis (Texas sedge). This species serves as the matrix, and because the culms are very long, they can make the planting look like a bad hair day. After the May cut back they will reflush within a few weeks to make a nice groundcover of green for the rest of the growing season.
Finally, I’m taking notes now of changes I want to make next year. I find taking pictures on my phone, circling the changes I want, and saving them in a note labeled 2026 helps to organize my thoughts.
As you come out of this spring’s floral peak, ask yourself does your garden carry your attention through the entire year or just in the spring or summer? Are there gaps that frustrate you, or maybe you haven’t even noticed them yet?
That’s what my new course, The Seasonal Maximizer for Naturalistic Plantings, is all about. It’s on sale through Monday, May 19.
It’s packed with practical strategies and plant pairings that help you identify seasonal blind spots, plug floral gaps, and build a garden that performs ecologically and visually no matter the month.
If you want your plantings to look better, carry their magic through every season, and support more life year-round, this course is for you.
