May
Things to Notice: Greens
There are so many shades of green that appear in May, and I love them all. As the leaves are emerging on trees and plants around you, notice how each plant and tree comes alive in its own time. None of them are hurrying up to catch up to the one next to them, or worrying that they leafed out too early. They’re just doing their thing in their own time, bringing life and colour back into the landscape. (There’s your metaphor for life for the month.) Look for the bright, deep greens of grass on lawns filling in after the golden colour of winter. There are the light, lime-y greens of new leaves that are just starting to emerge and will be wide open, darker in colour and tougher in texture by the end of the month. There are the dark greens of the evergreens that are so steady and reliable throughout the year - and the contrast between that and the almost minty colour of the new tips as they emerge. (Taste one - they’re delightful and tart and fresh!)
Things to Make
Hummingbird nectar: Over the past few years, keeping hummingbird feeders from May through September has become one of my favourite things during the warmer half of the year. It’s usually the first week of May when they arrive for the season. These are the two that I have and love, but you can also make your own if you search online for ideas. This window one is great - so easy to clean and fill, and it’s really, really neat to be able to see the hummingbirds so close up. You can also hang that one or put it on an included post. And I love this antique glass style one that I’ve had for years. (Not sponsored!) The nectar is easy to make - just dissolve one part white granulated sugar into 4 parts boiling water and let cool. You have to clean and refill the feeders often so mold and bacteria don’t take over. It’s definitely worth the effort to have them whizzing around and see their feathers glinting in the sun - they are so delightful!
Potato salad with chives from the garden: Potato salad tastes like spring to me - we’re getting plenty of eggs from the hens right now, and the the chives are in full swing. Chives are so easy to grow, with zero maintenance required (more on that below). For the simplest potato salad, just boil two eggs and some peeled, cubed potatoes. Combine the cooked and cooled potatoes, chopped boiled eggs, salt, pepper, a glop of mayo, salt and pepper and a handful of chopped chives. Bacon bits add some extra oomph, and I think a bit of sriracha is also good dotted on top. You can play around to find the ratios you like best. Best if eaten outside in the sun!
Fir/spruce tip tea - There are a lot of fir and spruce trees here, and the fresh little tips of new growth are not only edible, but tasty and nutritious. They have a bright, lemony flavour that’s hard to compare to anything else. The simplest tea is simply from a few tips, steeped either in hot water or in the sun in a jar of water. There’s a comprehensive post here all about them and there’s also a recipe for fir tip syrup.
Things to Do
Plant some herbs! If you don’t already have them growing in your garden, my top two are mint and chives. There are many varieties of each - we have spearmint, chocolate, and strawberry mint… and a few others I’ve forgotten. I love mint SO much to dry and use in teas through the winter, to freshen up iced tea and as a garnish - it’s lovely. It’s easy to grow, and will take over wherever it is planted once it’s established. Chives are equally easy - you just plants them and leave them. They come up in early March, bloom the prettiest purple (also edible) flowers in May, and are just delicious, with a subtle onion flavour. It’s so much less expensive to grow your own rather than buying the little plastic containers at the grocery store. If you have a friend or neighbour who has them, they can be easily split and shared from one garden to another. They can also be grown in pots, if you don’t have space in the ground.
Take a photo walk: I just love going for a walk and taking pictures to share. It’s even more fun when there is a specific theme - this time of year, there are so many things to choose from - colours, flowers, trees - the options are endless. I find it helps me to look more closely at my surroundings when I’m thinking about taking pictures.
Plan something fun: Planning is a huge part of the fun of a trip, and even though we can’t travel as much as we might want to, there are fun things closer to home. We have a few camping trips booked for the summer, and I get so excited about planning menus, and all of the details. We’re back in lockdown right now, but are able to get out and about in our own communities for outdoor exercise - I’m looking forward to the warm weather this month and getting out in it. Planning some new-to-us walks and hikes is almost as fun as actually doing them.
I hope that despite everything, you find something to enjoy this month. Take care!