Read by Matilda Longbottom

Welcome, May—my favorite time of year (and not just because I happened to be born in this glorious month). I love May because you can feel Spring in the air each day. There are still some chilly mornings that remind you Winter isn’t far behind, but by afternoon, the beaming sunshine makes you think Summer will be here any minute.

Each year, I plant something new for my birthday. It’s the perfect time, since most of our frost risk is gone, and the soil is warming up nicely. I’ve planted everything from blueberry bushes to peach trees and even my very own raspberry patch. This year, I’ve been thinking it might be time for a pretty flower garden to brighten up the front of the house.

As I started researching what I wanted to plant, I got sidetracked by the flowers that correspond with each birth month. Did you know that each month has two designated birth flowers? That way, you can choose the one you prefer. The flowers for May are lily of the valley and hawthorn.

Lily of the valley is a flower I’m somewhat familiar with. Its delicate white blossoms have always intrigued me. As I did some more research, I found that they symbolize sweetness, grace, humility, and gentle charm. When I look at these precious blooms, all of those adjectives readily come to mind.

I had never heard of hawthorn and was instantly intrigued. Apparently, it is also known as the “May Tree” and symbolizes happiness, new beginnings, hope, and protection. What could be more fitting for a month where everything seems to be born anew than a plant representing fresh starts and optimism?

After discovering this, I wanted to know the birth flowers of pretty much everyone in my life. My daughters, born in January and September, have carnations and snowdrops, and asters and morning glories, respectively. My husband, born in August, claims gladiolus and poppies.

I had a brief moment of insanity when I considered planting an entire garden based on our birth flowers. I started visualizing the colors and how I would arrange them. Should I group them by color, size, or month? Then, I paused and took a deep breath. Creating an entire garden based on birth flowers is a daunting task. Besides, I only have so much room, and I definitely need to make space for tulips, daffodils, peonies, and a few other cherished blooms.

In the end, I decided that as intriguing as birth flowers are, I’m not quite ready to let them take over my entire garden. I’ll continue planting the flowers I love (and the varieties I haven’t managed to kill). Maybe someday, I’ll revisit the idea of a birth flower garden, but for now, I’m content with my kaleidoscope of colors.

Happy planting, and I hope you enjoy all the beauty May has to offer! ❖