At the end of April 2026, we are under an extreme drought in Morrisville, NC. I’ve been looking at my notes from previous years and comparing them to what I’m seeing this year. The lack of water is definitely noticeable. The ground is dry and dusty. Some plants don’t seem to care, while others are struggling and dying. One of my favorite flowers is Venus’ looking glass. By the middle to end of April, it’s typically everywhere. But this year, I have seen so many plants, but hardly any flowers.
In a typical May you can look forward to seeing cardinal flower, wild petunias, Carolina roses, lizard’s-tail, smartweeds, Queen Anne’s lace, striped wintergreen, Maryland meadow beauty, Asiatic dayflower, alternate-leaved seedbox, and so much more.
I’ll continue to make note of how the plants are doing as we continue through this drought. I’d love to hear about what you are noticing in your area.