Thursday, May 11, 2017

a may cloth



The May cloth was started a year ago as part of my "bringing in the May" seasonal ritual. This year's ritual was a continuation of stitching, bringing in flowering branches and making chive blossom vinegar. 


Traditionally the branch of May is from a hawthorn tree but mine is honeysuckle because our hawthorn has already bloomed.


This honeysuckle bush is huge, gorgeous and fragrant. The leaves are blue-green and insects can't stay away from the light-pink flowers. The entire bush buzzes with happy bees and wasps and even flies. It has stood up to our erratic weather including snow and rain and wind. If I could choose what flavor air I wanted to breathe, it would be this. I've forgotten the variety but do know it was created and grown by Denver Botanic Gardens, different from other honeysuckles with brighter pink flowers and less fragrance.


The cold frame houses mostly things grown from seed and some I dug up from my gardens. There's well over a hundred plants in this little space but over half will be donated to a fundraiser sponsored by a gardening group I belong to.


The chives took a beating from the weather along with everything else in the garden. These scruffy flowers are presently infusing a jar of vinegar -- chive vinegar gives food a nice kick.


Our Korean lilac is in bloom -- always a few weeks later than common lilacs, it was still hit hard by snow. It's tough.


Flowers, crystals and a candle -- I'm good.


Not sure if this piece will be finished this May either but progress has been made. I collected all the green threads from my thread nest to stitch the words and sort of like the varying shades of green. I think some blossoms might fall from the tree and maybe even swirl around the moon. A branch of May we'll bring to you is a line from The Cambridge Song here.

And I hope the month of May will be a lovely time for you whether it be spring or autumn. xx


9 comments:

  1. Oh those beautiful lilacs...and the honeysuckle! I vividly remember those fragrances...

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  2. Suzanna, those olfactory memories go deep, don't they? It will be sad when this honeysuckle finishes blooming but still going strong for now.

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  3. Your May cloth is a celebration! I don't think it needs to be done quickly, those of us with snow all winter need to celebrate Spring.
    I love chive vinegar, I have some with garlic chives and they make a heavenly vinegar.

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  4. Kathy, thank you. Looks like winter is still here -- we're expecting snow and rain on Friday with a low of 30 degrees. On Bike to Work Day.

    I have never made or even tasted garlic chive vinegar, will have to try that one, thanks for the tip -- I can buy some garlic chive plants this weekend at the plant sale!

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  5. I can't believe your still getting more snow!! It will probably be here next week.
    I love garlic chives, be sure and try them. They have white flowers.

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  6. that honeysuckle! wow. and your lush, honoring of the cycles of nature are always an inspiration. I know from my son in Boulder how strange the weather has been. Glad your plants are making it in spite of the weird temps and snow.

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  7. Honeysuckle, lilac and chives ...
    I can smell the scents from here!

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  8. Oh that honeysuckle!!! I love getting that one drop of sweetness from honeysuckle! love this cloth...I agree...it IS a celebration!

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