May 2009

"The world's favorite season is Spring.
All things seem possible in May"
Edwin Way Teal (1899 - 1980)

Mid-atlantic Regional Weather Watch: fair and cooler (1,2,3) with showers and storms (4,5). Fair and mild (6,7,8,9,10) turning stormy again with heavy rains (11,12,13,14,15,16). Fair and warm (17,18,19,20,21,22)with more showers (23,24). Look out for severe storms (25,26) with showers continuing (27,28,29). The month ends with fair and warm weather (30,31).

Tornado Watch: The Almanack sees no tornado activity in the month of May.

Full Moon: May has naturally become known as the FlOWER MOON because of the many flowers blooming after those April showers! It also has been known as the MILK MOON because cows appeared to produce more milk during this month. May's Full Moons occurs on the 8th at 11:01PM.

Special Notes: In April, 1963. President John F. Kennedy met with the National Council of Senior Citizens and then designated May as Senior Citizens Month in recognition of the 17 million Americans who had reached the age of 65. In 1980, Senior Citizens Month became Older Americans Month.

Holidays: Cinco de Mayo is celebrated on its traditional day, May 5th. Mother's Day is celebrated on Sunday May 10th. The smallest gesture of bright flowers or a nice dinner out will tell her just how much she means to you. Armed Forces Day falls on Wednesday, May 20th and Memorial Day, on Monday, May 25th. Celebrate the start of the 2009 summer season but do not forget those who have served and are still serving in our armed forces. Without them watching over us, we would surely be lost. We owe them all so much for what they have done in the past and most importantly, what they will continue to do in the future to protect our way of life.

The Garden: Now is the time to set out colorful annuals like geraniums, impatiens, marigolds, petunias, and zinnias. Prevent flowering plants from flopping over due to the wind or after they bloom by using interlocking metal plant stakes to support garden phlox and peonies blooms. Taller plants like delphinium, foxglove and hollyhock will require taller, slender stakes. 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 but don't trim away too many of the emerging buds or you won't have as many flowers. Hold off mowing the lawn until it reaches a height slightly higher then recommended. This will give the lawn a jump-start, making it stronger. Adjust the mowing deck to cut back by about one-third. Then, gradually lower the deck until you are mowing at the recommended height for your grass type. 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.

J. Grubers' Thought for Today's Living:

"There is beauty all around us when there is love at home"