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May 2016
"A mother’s arms are made of tenderness
and children sleep soundly in them"
- Victor Hugo (1812-1889)
Mid-Atlantic Weather Watch: Storms (1, 2) turning cloudy and mild (3, 4, 5); showers in the northern part of the region, storms in the south (6,7,8). Fair, very warm (9, 10, 11, 12, 13) with more storms, cooler (14, 15, 16); fair and warm (17, 18, 19, 20)with still more storms, heavy rains in
the south (21, 22, 23, 24). Fair and very warm (25, 26, 27) with more showers, storms, and cooler (28, 29, 30, 31).
Full Moon: May’s full moon occurs on Saturday, May 21st. It has often been called Flower Moon because of the many flowers that bloom during the month. The Huron tribe called it Budding Moon. Early American farmers often referred to it as Milk Moon because of the noticeable increase in milk produced by their cows as the weather starts
to warm,
Special Notes: Rogation Sunday is May 1st, Ascension Day is Thursday, May 5th, Pentecost falls on Sunday, May 15th (and is also Whit Sunday), and Trinity Sunday is celebrated on May 22nd. World No Tobacco Day is celebrated on Tuesday, May 31st and National Day of Prayer and Cinco de Mayo both fall on Thursday, May 5th.
Holidays: Mother’s Day in 2016 falls on Sunday May 8th. Be sure to remember her on her special day with a telephone call, a sentimental card, a nice flower arrangement, or by just spending some quality time with her. After all, she was the one who gave you the gift life! Armed Forces Day is Saturday, May 21st, and Memorial Day falls
on Monday, May 30th, which officially starts the 2015 summer season! Plan to do something special with family and friends but don’t forget that the day has been set aside for honoring those who have served in our military and those who are currently serving. Their sacrifices protect our precious freedoms and ensure our way of life.
The Garden: Once your last frost data has passed, warm season crops can be planted. When the ground temperatures reach 70 degrees Fahrenheit, it is safe to begin planting Okra, Pumpkin, Sweet Potatoes, Eggplant, Peppers, Peanuts, Watermelon, Cow Peas, Black-eyed Peas, Crowder Peas, Butter Peas and Butter Beans. Trim up hedges and
shrubs to shape and tighten them with new growth. Most flowering shrubs will respond to a light trimming at this time of year. Don’t trim away too many of the emerging buds or you won’t have as many flowers. Begin pinching annuals and perennials so the plants fill in and produce more blooms. Prune evergreens when the new growth starts to turn a darker shade of
green. Hold off mowing the lawn until it reaches a height slightly higher then recommended. This will give the lawn a jump-start and make it stronger. Set the mowing deck to trim the grass back one-third, and then gradually lower it to the proper height for the specific type of grass
J. Gruber’s Thought For Today’s Living
"Gardens are for all ages: the young, for hope of the future; the elderly for fond memories of the past; and for in between, the rewards of a good life now."
Index of Past Month's Entries
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