Happy May Day

Happy May Day!!

"See our Maypole filled with flowers,
From above, the blossoms tower,
Fragrance rich, and perfume rare,
Pretty scents that fill the air.
Violets blue and daisies white,
You are here for our delight;
Daffodils and roses, too,
Pretty flow'rs for me and you!
Tell us what the flowers say,
As we sing and dance and play.
Tell us what the flowers say,
On this special day!
This is what the flowers say,
As we sing and dance and play.
This is what the flowers say:
It is bright May day!"

(Copyright Clara Beeson Hubbard)

As a child, this was the day I would pick flowers from my Mom’s garden and give them to my neighbors. I always saved strawberry containers and weaved colorful ribbons through the holes in each container to make pretty baskets for the flowers. I would then put a baby food jar in each basket and pack it in with newspaper to keep the jar from moving around.

Then I would raid Mom’s early flowers: Iris’, peonies, daisies, tulips, roses – whatever happened to be blooming. Cutting the stems to fit the basket, I would fill the jars with water and arrange my flowers.

I would take these little baskets to several neighbors’ homes, hang them on the doorknob and then ring the doorbell and run away. I always got the biggest kick out of watching my neighbors open their door to a small basket of flowers.

When my middle daughter was 6 years old, she participated in the May Queen pageant at Old Fort Harrod. This used to be an annual event in the 1980s and early 90s, but sadly it is no longer held. Anyway, all the contestants were first graders and they usually wore their Easter Sunday dresses. What made this contest so unusual was, the girls were judged on their flower arrangements – not on their looks.

Each girl was given instructions on making an unusual flower basket and they could have help from parents to make them. Then the baskets were filled with flowers. The basket Marie made was similar to a paper Japanese lantern. We used a paper cup inside to hold the water and flowers. My best friend owned a florist in Danville, so she supplied up with daisies to supplement the flowers from my garden. She also made Marie a flower wreath for her head.

Marie was adorable – but then so were the other 8 girls that year. Marie ended up being first runner-up and was proclaimed the May Day Princess. It still makes me smile looking back on all the photos we took.

Today, my May Day is a little more subdued. I always pick fresh flowers for the house, but I no longer make baskets for my neighbors. Recent May Days have found the girls and me home alone because my hubby has to work the Derby every year.

So, make someone’s day today – give him or her the joy of May Day flowers.

April Showers Bring May Flowers

April Showers Bring May Flowers
By Bobbi Rightmyer

May flowers are now pushing up through the moist soil,
Spurred on by generous April rains and the beginning of summer sun,
Delighting the sight and other senses
Capturing a gardener's imagination.



Peonies are the elders, hold-overs from gardens gone by,
Straight red stems lead to the formation of glossy green leaves,
Large sugar ants invade the tightly curled buds
Offering pollination that ends with a cornucopia of colors and textures.



Daylilies wave daintily with the sun-drenched breeze,
Blossoms of yellow, orange, red and pink high above blades of beautiful green foliage.
Although the flowers only bloom for a day,
They offer a dash of color as well as tasty additions to salads.



Iris come in many sizes, textures and shapes.
Repeat bloomers, ruffled edges, Siberian and miniatures ones, not to mention those with encrusted beards.
Practically growing above the ground, this faithful perennial is a staple in many home gardens,
And Iris' make the perfect "pass along plant" to share with family and friends.



Dandelions always receive a bad rap from people who see them as weeds,
But I know the truth of their nutritional value and every day uses.
The leaves contain many good vitamins and make the perfect addition to summer salads,
And the buds can be brewed into tasty oils and vinegars and fermented into dandelion wine.



Although not a flower, there is one May occupant that rows in rampant abundance,
The vivid green grasses supplying the backdrop for all the colorful posies.
From thick lush lawns to ornamental focal points,
It would not be May without this hardworking carpet of green.



Some tulips are still blooming tho` most are now passed peak,
And daffodil leaves are still standing tall, preparing the nourishment for the underground bulbs.
Apple and pear blossoms have all blown away, setting the stage for the fruit to come.
But the snowball bush is preparing to shine as the branches are laden with fluffy while balls.

May flowers give us Mother Nature's finest show,
Sparking the desire to work outdoors.
Planning and plotting to decide what to plant
To add variety for a more beautiful display next year.