BRINGING IN THE MAY

"A delicate fabric of bird song
Floats in the air,
The smell of wet wild earth
Is everywhere.
Oh I must pass nothing by
Without loving it much,
The raindrop try with my lips,
The grass with my touch;
For how can I be sure
I shall see again
The world on the first of May
Shining after the rain?"
- Sara Teasdale, May Day

May Day is an ancient holiday in many European countries that still follow the traditions.  " Bringing in the May " meant that one was to go out early in the morning, wash their face with the dew and gather flowers to make garlands and bouquets.   It was an important occasion that marked the beginning of Spring or Summer, depending on where you were.    May is a big occasion in my family, too,  -as  today, May 1st ,  in my birthday and two of my children were born this month as well.  And then, of course, there's Mother day. 

On this May day I can't help but reflect on what a difference a year makes - last year on this day my ornamental kitchen garden in Chicago looked like this :

and now I am a "landless " gardener in North Carolina .  But I must garden no matter what and I'm fortunate to have an outdoor deck and great weather to grow plants.  My garden this May Day looks like this :

April showers do spring May flowers . Seeing what's growing in both public and private gardens this month gives me lots of pleasure as it seems that there's always something in bloom here.   The irises are still blooming and are now joined by roses of all colors and varities.  Along the roadside are small white wild roses with arching branches dancing in the breeze, a fond sight I recall from my youth .

It appears that almost everyone has a vegetable garden -some in their front and some in the back. I've been enjoying my own lettuce and herbs from the container garden and appreciate how they just spring right back when you snip them .

Happy May Day my friends.  I look forward to celebrating my first birthday in sunny North Carolina .