Read by Matilda Longbottom
May arrives in a flurry of color. Those April showers really do usher in May flowers. Each day, something new is poking through the earth or showcasing new colors. This is a big month for gardening. For most of us, not only are air temperatures rising, but soil temperatures are also warming—making this the perfect month to start new growth.
Food gardening is on the rise. Folks want more than just pretty flowers—they want something to sustain them. Read more in Food Gardening Paints a Bright Future by Don Nicholas. As you plant, don’t forget to protect your precious new crops, but be mindful that the mulch you use is safe. Amanda MacArthur shares the dirt on mulch in Mulch Magic: A Guide to Non-Toxic Garden Ground Covers. Pat Stone reminds us that gardening isn’t just about planting and forgetting. Check out Coaching Seedbirth for an insightful view on nurturing your garden.
If you’re starting your own food garden, don’t miss our Plants We Love section this month. We dive into both herbs and vegetables with articles like Delightful Dill: The Herb That Does It All!, The Red Onion: Zesty Roots, Sweet Layers, and Garden Glory, and Jack’s Bean Chronicles: The Real Tale of Beans, Gardens, and Culinary Magic. If you’re a fruit fanatic (like I am), explore Bill Dugan’s article, The Golden Gem: Healthful Peaches? and discover why this fruit is so beneficial.
We continue to share both heartwarming and humorous tales in Our Stories from the Garden. Nana, Flower Thief by Ry Mas had me chuckling out loud—do you have any flower thieves in your life? Valentine Mageto keeps the laughs coming with The Great Tomato Adventure. I know I’ve had my fair share of gardening mishaps, and I’m sure you have, too!
Not all of our stories are meant to tickle your funny bone—some are designed to tug at your heartstrings. Carole Fleischman embodies this in The Garden’s Embrace. I truly resonated with her sentiment: “Every time I feel sad, being in the garden eases my pain.” The Heart of the Hearth by Linda Romero Criswell touched me in a way I cannot adequately explain. Imagine how wonderful it would be if every community had a communal oven.
With warmer weather comes the familiar hum of lawnmowers. For many of us up north, it’s been six months or more since we last needed to use them! Some people love their lawns and the care they require, while others are eager to find shortcuts for what they see as a tiresome chore. We share stories from both sides in our new Lawn Care Story Collection. Which side do you fall on?
Finally, we escape to France for our Garden to Table Journeys. Is there anywhere more quintessentially Spring than France? With songs and poems dedicated to Springtime in the French countryside, it’s the perfect setting. We flex our culinary prowess with recipes for stuffed mushroom caps, quiche Lorraine, French onion soup, and more. Best of all—you don’t need a passport to join us!
Now is the time to dive into our May issue and prepare for the gardening season. Step into the sunshine and enjoy watching nature wake up!
Christy Page
Executive Editor
GreenPrints
P.S. Please email Christy Page with your feedback. We look forward to hearing from you. Or just post your comments about this issue below, to share with the entire GreenPrints community.
