The Lusty Month of May

By Susan Crater

The Lusty Month of May

Ah, May! The very name conjures up images of gardens and that irresistible urge to refresh, renew, make better! There is a song in my parent’s favorite musical, Camelot, called “The Lusty Month of May,” which is sung by Queen Guinevere as she dreams of Sir Lancelot and proclaims May the month when “tons of wicked little thoughts merrily appear!” That did not turn out so well for King Arthur, but let’s gloss over that.

Our lilac hedge in Lyme

My “wicked little thoughts” this May? They involve a deep dive into all things garden and terrace, and how I can renew/refresh/improve without breaking the bank. My mother is putting her vegetable garden in Maine in with new additions of radishes, cilantro, and beets. Here in Lyme, our most satisfying spring purchases is six Sargent's crabapple trees to create a little orchard you can see from our porch. This is particularly thrilling because these trees will be here when I am long gone, and what's more satisfying than that?


Henry getting his close up

For me, the magic of spring starts in February and March, buried in garden books and magazines, dreaming of what's to come. Daily walks with my dog Henry become a lot more renewing when the biting wind and gray skies are finally replaced with soft breezes and flowering trees. Now, with a glass of rosé in hand on the terrace, those dreams are turning into delightful realities as we walk off the placement of the trees and wait for the lilacs to arrive. Our house is famous for its lilac hedge and I can say with all certainty their arrival never gets old.


Spring scenes!

To top off the full embrace of spring, I have made sure to spend time in New York, where spring is relished by all. Who can resist watching the flowering trees in Central Park come alive and the tulips on Park Avenue? Outdoor cafes are buzzing and so are the conversations. Maybe the antics in King Arthur's court weren't exactly what everyone hoped for, but we all love the "lusty month of May."

Cheers, Susan

 

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