I think May must be one of my favourite months. If not my favourite. All the new growth has such vibrant colour. Not just the intricate flowers (Look at the forget-me-not. Like a little sugar paste flower), but the new leaves are somehow a fresher green. Even the air is filled with Spring. A short walk can mean ambling into clouds of fantastic, floral fragrance. One after another. I can’t help searching around for the flowers that are responsible.
It is a beautiful time of year. Not quite warm enough, but still inviting to go out.
It’s been a busy week and we’re glad it’s the weekend. After school today, BL and I headed out into the garden to enjoy the scent, taste and colour of the plants. Using all our senses. Discovering which plants provided the scent and which used their shape and colour to attract the insects.
We have a herb garden, that provided a few herbs to test out the different tastes. Chocolate mint, fennel and lemon balm were the favourites from that part of the garden.
We planted a fennel plant last year and it has come back big and strong. I used a few fronds, this afternoon for a refreshing cup of tea. A firm favourite.
So many beautiful flowers. It was cold and overcast and near the end of the day. The bumble bees had already headed home.
It felt a bit like visiting the garden after hours. Once all the visitors have left. Only a pair of geese flying over disturbed the peace. Not that we minded.
BL asked how I knew all the names of the flowers. I remember asking the same question when I was younger, listening to my father and grandmother. They used to converse in an almost different language. Using plant names. Given enough time, I’m sure she’ll learn them too. If she wants to.
Just lovely to spend time outside enjoying the garden with all our senses.
Yesterday was May Day. A school day with other commitments, which meant we couldn’t celebrate it together, as we have in previous years. Not even time to make a floral crown. Or design a well dressing. Or a garden goddess. (We might do that this weekend.) So today we made up for it. A May Day cake, that the children helped me to decorate. Jelly babies and a maypole dance.
Flowers and butterflies, as it is Spring. (Is it me, or have jelly babies morphed? They just don’t look quite as well defined as I remember them. More blobbish.)
Not that the children minded. They had their May Day cake with little dancers.
I do so love May!
Joining in with the inspirational Fiona, with all the other #CountryKids
Have you had some outdoor fun this week?
Your photos are just beautiful and that May Pole cake looks lovely – great idea #CountryKids
May is a beautiful month – I’ll be saying it about June too – but for the moment I’m loving May!
I always love your photos, they look so dreamy and wonderful. I’ve not heard of chocolate mint before but I think that would be a favourite of mine too. My apple mint is currently running wild and threatening to overtake everything, I hope chocolate mint is more restrained! A Maypole cake is a great idea and I do share your love of the month of May. Thank you for sharing with me on Country Kids.
Chocolate mint is lovely. I’ve used it in my ice cream and it just about works, which says a lot about the flavour, seeing as only strong flavours can survive the cold treatment! I must be the only person in the world who has managed to kill her apple mint, but I have quite a collection of other mints. If they have survived the winter. Not checked yet.
After reading your post and looking at the pictures I want to grab my kids and go out and smell the flowers and herbs! #countrykids
May is just the month to awaken the senses. Everything is so fresh. After a busy week, I’m glad we took a wander.
It is a lovely month, and your garden’s looking lovely. I do like that shot of your daughter with the Bleeding Hearts, and that cake looks brilliant!
(Can I admit that I was so tempted to rearrange the cake? Shh. I resisted.)
They did have fun decorating the cake. Half the cake has already gone and I think that they are half hoping we can do it all again!
so many stunning flowers and I bet they smell wonderful!! #countrykids
The fragrance was lovely 😀
More than anything I love those flowers in the cup/mug! So dainty =) #countrykids
We collected the flowers from along our lane as we walked home from school. I wanted to identify 2 of them. They do make a lovely posy.
Really beautiful photos this week Cheryl, love the ones of your daughter smelling the herbs and flowers. I’m glad that the flowers are finally coming out here, it is a beautiful time of year. Loving your May Day cake too 🙂 #CountryKids
Thanks Sara. BL had a lovely time checking out all the flowers. They all love it when we do taste tests. Glad to say they do leave some of the plant.
May is my favourite month too, my birthday in 2 day yeah.
Oh wow, stunning pictures, love your cake…
Happy birthday! You have a lovely birthday month. Enjoy.
Gorgeous pictures..We have been out in the garden today to check out all the flowers and what needs doing!
Love that cake!
It all changes so quickly in the garden. My to do list is getting longer. We’re loving the lilac at the moment.
what beautiful flowers and an amazing cake
Ah thanks. Any excuse for a cake! That’s me.
I love how sensory and inviting thismsounds. That cake looks great! #countrykids
Such a beautiful time of year. Lots of new life.
Such fabulous photos Cheryl and it sounds so inviting! The cake is amazing, I love the attention to detail and jelly babies. Just brilliant 🙂
Thanks Charly. It is all so inspiring at the moment.
I love that all these flowers are in your garden – I am so not a gardner #countrykids
Pockets of colour around the garden. I wish I had time to landscape the garden more. All in good time.
Awww, how lovely. That cake looks absolutely delicious xx
#countrykids
Soon disappeared!:)
I do love May too. I love the freshness in the air, the colour of everything. I never actually realised just how much there is to discover in the garden already. Thanks for the inspiration.
May is so fresh and colourful. Glad you are enjoying it too.