May Day
Origins of May Day: Beltane
The Celts of the British Isles believed May 1 to be the most important day of the year, when the festival of Beltane was held.
This May Day festival was thought to divide the year in half, between the light and the dark. Symbolic fire was one of the main rituals of the festival, helping to celebrate the return of life and fertility to the world.
When the Romans took over the British Isles, they brought with them their five-day celebration known as Floralia, devoted to the worship of the goddess of flowers, Flora. Taking place between April 20 and May 2, the rituals of this celebration were eventually combined with Beltane.
May Day Maypole Dance
Another popular tradition of May Day involves the maypole. While the exact origins of the maypole remain unknown, the annual traditions surrounding it can be traced back to medieval times, and some are still celebrated today.
Villagers would enter the woods to find a maypole that was set up for the day in small towns (or sometimes permanently in larger cities). The day’s festivities involved merriment, as people would dance around the pole clad with colorful streamers and ribbons.
Historians believe the first maypole dance originated as part of a fertility ritual, where the pole symbolized male fertility and baskets and wreaths symbolized female fertility.
The maypole never really took root in America, where May Day celebrations were discouraged by the Puritans. But other forms of celebrations did find their way to the New World.
During the 19th and 20th centuries, May Basket Day was celebrated across the country, where baskets were created with flowers, candies and other treats and hung on the doors of friends, neighbors and loved ones on May 1.
https://www.history.com/topics/holidays/history-of-may-day
Good bye winter here comes spring/summer. Get those plants in
the ground, watch them grow and enjoy till the next freeze.
April showers bring May flowers.
In my excitement yesterday, I forgot that it was the end of the month. I had an exciting birding day yesterday that ended with me getting to watch 2 (of 4) bluebirds fledging. If I had been more aware, I would’ve waited until today to share. Any one who is also interested in birds can find a few shots at the end of last month’s thread.
https://freerepublic.com/focus/chat/4228224/posts?page=506#506
I heard an interview with Amy Tan this morning - her book sounds like it would be a good one.
The Backyard Bird Chronicles
https://www.amazon.com/Backyard-Bird-Chronicles-Amy-Tan/dp/0593536134
From Amazon:
“The drawings and essays in this book do a lot more than just describe the birds. They carry a sense of discovery through observation and drawing, suggest the layers of patterns in the natural world, and emphasize a deep personal connection between the watcher and the watched. The birds that inhabit Amy Tan’s backyard seem a lot like the characters in her novels.” —David Allen Sibley, from the foreword
Tracking the natural beauty that surrounds us, The Backyard Bird Chronicles maps the passage of time through daily entries, thoughtful questions, and beautiful original sketches. With boundless charm and wit, author Amy Tan charts her foray into birding and the natural wonders of the world.
In 2016, Amy Tan grew overwhelmed by the state of the world: Hatred and misinformation became a daily presence on social media, and the country felt more divisive than ever. In search of peace, Tan turned toward the natural world just beyond her window and, specifically, the birds visiting her yard. But what began as an attempt to find solace turned into something far greater—an opportunity to savor quiet moments during a volatile time, connect to nature in a meaningful way, and imagine the intricate lives of the birds she admired.
thx for the ping!!
This will be a limited Garden year for me. I didn’t order my Orchard trees or blueberries in time. I only have two raised beds. I did get my Peppers going inside and they are a good size to put out in a couple weeks. I didn’t do any Tomatoes but the volunteers have come up and I have way too many.
I can’t decide what type of green bean to grow, all I know is it needs to be non-hybrid. I have some Blue Lake seeds, scarlet runner beans, and romano. I know I’ll grow some scarlet, just for the flowers. And the beans for next year, they won’t cross pollinate with anything.
Here in Virginia, we could use a happy rain dance.
It’s 3:30 & I have been mowing for 2 hours, came in for a shade, limeade & dill pickle break (sugar & salt - hits the spot on a hot day!).
The BIG news - I am mowing the bank! I practiced on some short, steep banks along the driveway where I didn’t have to worry about ending up in a hip deep culvert, just to see how the mower handles. Once I start down, no ‘forward’ pedal at all & it self- brakes until right as the rear tires come off the hill when it speeds up until the rear tires are on the flat, then it stops until I give it forward pedal. Perfect!
The only fly in the ointment is I have to ‘go around’ to get to the top again, can’t go back up the bank. This is time consuming, but not as horrible as having to weed eat the whole thing!!
I still have the back (behind the house to the property line) to do, which is about 2.5 hours. Definitely a “John Deere rear” sort of a day .... butt (pun intended) it looks SO GOOD :-)
And it froze the last two nights... very cool spring here so far. Tomato and zuke tarts indoors under a grow light. Kale and collards seeds in the ground, covered up until warmer today. Can’t wait until we don’t have to buy vegies at the store.
Hit the grocery store and grabbed 9 more Shitito seedlings. Not all they have because they still have a ton, plus a lot of other peppers and quite a few varieties of tomatoes too. More Sun Sugar, Mortgage Lifter, Black Krim(both indeterminate). They have nothing in their ad and no signs for the deal.
I’m gonna make a trip Sunday and bring some seed trays and load up for $1.50 for 8-12 inch tall seedlings.
