We had to have the most unusual May on record. It would not hurt my feelings if the intermittent cool spells continue through June, July and August, but I won't hold my breath. The cooler weather may have slowed the growth on some plants, but it also kept some plants blooming a little longer than usual. There is still plenty to do in the garden, and it has simply been a joy to garden this past month-if you could find the time.

By now, many of the spring blooming plants have finished blooming, and are putting on new growth. If they are too large, prune them as needed now. If you have not fertilized them, do one application now. For plants that are well established, blooming well, and growing at a good rate, one application of fertilizer per year should be sufficient to maintain vigor and good blooming. Too much fertilization is not a good thing.

Color options abound at the nurseries and garden centers now. Cooler weather kept pansies lasting longer than normal, but it is time to replace them with summer color. From blooming annuals, flowering tropical plants and perennials, the options can be overwhelming. Experiment with new plants. If you haven't tried the penta plant for annual color, and you have sun, you are missing out on a great plant. These plants come in red, pink, purple or white-bloom non-stop and attract hummingbirds and butterflies. The Dragonwing begonia is an excellent option for all season bloom in partial shade with excellent red and now pink flowers. Both are Arkansas Select plants and should be readily available.

Container gardening has come a long way from the days of a pot of geraniums on the front porch. Container sizes, shapes and forms are all adding new dimensions to container gardening. Almost any plant can be grown in the container, it just may need a larger container if it is a large plant. Use potting soil, not garden soil to prevent insect and disease problems. As temperatures heat up, watering needs will increase. You may already be watering almost daily with smaller containers, so consider water needs when choosing container size. Group like-minded plants together-those that need full sun, dry conditions, or shade and moisture. The availability of blooming tropical plants is increasing every year. There are all shapes and sizes of hibiscus, vining mandevillas come in pink or white, double or single blooms, and new plants are introduced each year. What do tropical plants thrive on? Heat and humidity, which we have in abundance every summer.

Herb gardening is a popular hobby, and if you like to cook, fresh herbs can make a huge difference in the flavor of the foods. As a general rule, herbs are not difficult to grow. Many nurseries now carry a good selection of plants, and offer new and interesting cultivars each year. Most herbs prefer full sun to do their best, but partial shade or filtered sun can produce some good herbs. They are also easily grown in containers. Harvest them often, or as needed. The more you cut on them-especially the annual ones like basil, the fuller they grow. If you end up with too bountiful a harvest, either freeze them or dry them and used the dried version this winter. If you don't have room for an herb garden, intersperse herbs in your ornamental beds-rosemary and lavender are evergreen sub-shrubs. Thyme makes a great groundcover and there are some excellent variegated sages that are as pretty as they are good to eat. Use caution with any pesticides near herbs, since you do eat the foliage.

It isn't too late to plant a vegetable garden. All of the warm season vegetables from tomatoes to peppers to squash can be planted from now through early August. If you love okra and southern peas, hot weather is what they thrive on, so plant away. Keep your seeds watered until they are up and established. If you planted in April or early May, they may not be as actively growing as you would like. As the weather warms up, they will kick in and grow.

We have had some reports of tomatoes not setting in as large of numbers as usual. The frequent rain, coupled with the cooler than normal nights may have slowed things down a bit, but they should be back to normal now. The plants are looking lush and full, and should support a good crop of fruit.

While we like grass in our lawns, we don't need it or want it in our flower beds. Bermuda grass often grows best where it isn't wanted. If Bermuda grass is invading your perennial beds, monkey grass or iris beds, use a grass specific herbicide now. Poast, Grass-b-gone, or Fusilade will do a good job killing the grass, without hurting your plants. Be sure to read and follow the label directions before applying any product. It is often best to apply before the grass has been allowed to take over. While it should still give you control later in the season, the dead grass look can be as unappealing as the weedy look.

Tick calls have been at a premium this season already. While they are never wanted, keep in mind that they can pose a health risk. Keep a record of when you have removed one, in case you do come down with any flue like symptoms. Keep the yard as clean as possible with regular mowing and weed-eating. If you have them in large numbers, you may need an insecticide. Diazinon and dursban are still good alternatives to tick and flea control, but there are some new products. Permethrin-Eliminator, and Bayer Advanced insect control are both new and work well.

Lawns have greened up nicely. The rainfall we had in May, coupled with any fertilizer has us mowing regularly. If you have not fertilized, do so this month. Most warm season lawns should be fertilized at least once or twice a year. Bermuda can tolerate more fertilizer, but you will mow more often. Zoysia grass is often over-fertilized, which can result in problems with thatch, and even some diseases. Two applications a year should be sufficient.

Poison ivy is always prevalent in our state, but we seem to get more calls on it all the time-especially following good gardening weather, when people are out working in their lawns and gardens. Learn to recognize those noxious "leaves of three" and pull it out carefully when you spot it. If it is growing within your shrubs, there is nothing that will kill it without damaging your shrubs. The plastic bags the newspaper comes in, makes a good "glove" to pull the weeds with, then turn them inside out and dispose of the weed. Remember, you can contract the rash from mowing the weed, to weed-eating or burning, so use caution. Even after it is killed, you can get the rash from the stored oils in the leaves or stems for awhile.

Our strawberry season seemed a bit brief this spring, but they sure were good while they were here. Late frosts and rainy weather can play havoc on strawberries. If you grow your own, now is the time to renovate the beds to prevent them from being too matted to set good fruit. Thin them out to a reasonable level, fertilize and monitor water needs.

Even though some tomatoes aren't as prolific, doesn't mean we don't have tomatoes on the vines, with some enterprising gardeners getting ready to harvest. Often, just about the time you plan to harvest your first ripe tomato, blossom end rot seems to hit. Blossom end rot is a calcium deficiency caused by fluctuating moisture levels. It usually occurs when we have a dry spell, followed by a drenching rain. Mulching can help to moderate soil moisture, but so can drip irrigation. If you still see the water soaked areas appearing on your tomatoes, sprays of Stop Rot, or calcium chloride can help. Birds may also attack ripe tomatoes looking for moisture. Keep a water source for the birds away from your garden. Use a black plastic bird netting to help protect them.

By now the 6 week growth period should be about finished for most spring flowering bulbs. The foliage can now be safely cut. Bulbs require six to eight weeks of foliage to generate energy for next seasons flowers. By now, their work should be about finished. Some gardeners prefer to let the leaves die down naturally, but with the moisture and cool weather, you may still have leaves well into June or even July. I need the room for my summer annuals, so I cut the foliage as soon as the six weeks are finished.

Many of the early cool season vegetables have bolted-or gone to seed, a little early this year. Major fluctuations of temperature, which we have had, can cause their season to end early. Once you see a flower stalk appear on your onions, or your broccoli heads begin to show yellow, they are done. Cutting off the onion bloom stalk will not make it grow more, so harvest and eat those smaller onions. They taste great, they just won't last as long.

The time of day vegetables are harvested can make a difference in the taste and texture. For sweetness, pick peas and corn late in the day. That's when they contain the most sugar. Other vegetables, such as lettuce and cucumbers, are crisper and tastier if you harvest them early in the morning before the day's heat has a chance to wilt and shrivel them.