Most of us who have watched old movies may have heard the term "mayday" being used as a distress call. While the pure, unending frenzy of spring and the beginning of the garden season may have this extension agent screaming "Mayday! Mayday!" from time to time, that's not what this article is about.
The May Day I'm talking about is an old holiday that is celebrated today. It was celebrated well before Christianity, but it isn't as commonly celebrated as it once was. I have heard of it, but I've never really seen any celebrations locally.
Back before the Gregorian calendar was adopted, May 1 was considered the beginning of summer. The festival developed out of several festivals from different parts of the world around the same time, including Floralia, the late April festival celebrating the Roman goddess of flowers, Walpurgis night, celebrated on April 30 in Germanic countries and Beltane, celebrated on April 30 by Gaelic traditions.
What most people know as May Day comes from the British celebrations - dancing around the maypole where dancers circle a pole wrapping ribbons around it - and Morris dancing, which is choreographed stepping while wearing bells. It is a celebration of springtime and summer fertility, and many villages and towns have their own celebration.
The hawthorn tree, a member of the rose family, is a symbol of May Day. It's profuse flowers were a symbol of spring fertility. And by the old calendar it was in bloom during early May (it is usually later now).
It was made into garlands, and branches were stuck in the ground and decorated. Some places had a taboo about bringing it inside the house, believing it was considered bad luck and would bring illness and death to the household. Some people said it smelled like the plague. It was later found that one of the scent compounds in the flowers resembles a chemical produced by rotting flesh.
Traditionally, it celebrated the end of the spring planting season and gave farm workers a much needed day off. However, today you could look at it as a call to garden (since the calendar has changed). It is a good reminder to get out and garden - the threat of frost has passed, or at least greatly diminished, and it is time to plant. So get out of the house and get in the garden. It's time to plant.
Want to learn more about gardening? The Kanawha County Master Gardeners are hosting "Spring into Gardening" workshops from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Saturday at the Coonskin Park Clubhouse. The event features gardening talks for every gardener.
The day kicks off with a keynote talk by Emmy-award winning public television garden show host Bryce Lane. His talk will feature up-and-coming garden trends that may give you some fresh new ideas for your garden. Throughout the rest of the event you can choose from four different breakout sessions.
For those wanting to learn about raised bed vegetable gardening, you can take the Raised Bed Gardening session taught by yours truly. Or you could learn about attracting birds to your garden through plant selection and providing habitat.
In the next session, Lane will present a talk on container gardening - a trend that keeps growing. The other option during this session is gardening for bees, butterflies and other pollinators - also a timely topic.
To register for the event (either online or to print a mail-in form), visit kanawha.ext.wvu.edu/springintogardening. You can also visit the extension office to register. (4700 MacCorkle Ave. SE, Suite 101 in Kanawha City. Registration is open until May 4.
Even if you aren't in the learning mode, the Master Gardeners will host a biennial plant sale from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Schoenbaum soccer complex just across the road from the clubhouse.
At the sale you'll be able to pick up beautiful, healthy plants grown by the Master Gardeners themselves at great prices. One of the best features, though, is that you'll get to talk to the Master Gardeners, learn about the plants you are buying and ask questions about gardening and other plants.
Both events would make a great Mother's Day weekend outing, or you can pick up some great plants for mom as a last-minute Mother's Day gift.
n Seed snap beans in the garden.
n Plant fingerling potatoes.
n Seed or plant Chinese cabbage in the garden.
n Transplant onions.
n Buy a plant for Mother's Day, preferably at the Master Gardener Plant Sale.
n Register for "Spring into Gardening" by May 4.
John Porter is the WVU Extension Service agent for agriculture and natural resources in Kanawha County. Follow him on Facebook, Twitter at @WVgardenguru and online at wvgardenguru.com. Contact him at john.porter@mail.wvu.edu or 304-720-9573.