When I was a kid, May 1st would find us kids making paper cones with handles out of construction paper. We would then head out the back door for the great mysterious woods behind our house and pick some wildflowers. Spring beauties, violets, some of mom’s late daffodils, dandelions, stuff like that. We wrapped the base of the stems in a wet paper towel, wrapped the wet paper towel with aluminum foil and then placed our home-made mini bouquet in the paper cone ‘vase’.
Once assembled we got to do the fun part: we would take our ‘vases’, stealthily sneak to our neighbors’ front door, hang the vase on the door knob, ring the door bell and run away laughing like fools the whole time. I guess you could say it was a reverse act of vandalism where you actually WANTED to get tagged! I hadn’t made a May Day bouquet for years so today’s effort was fun!
African Violets, O my!
The African Violet Society of Dayton (AVSD) is holding its annual Spring Display and Sale. Yee haw! If you want to see some fine examples of the Gesneriad plant family, head over to Town & Country Shopping Center (300 E. Stroop Rd., Kettering OH – corner of Stroop & Far Hills Roads) this coming Friday and Saturday, May 6 & 7. Plants from commercial growers and AVSD members, leaves, cuttings and potting soil will be for sale. AVSD members will be on hand to answer growing questions. This is a free event and open to the public. Friday hours are 10 am to 9 pm. Saturday’s hours are 10 am to 4 pm.
Nest cam updates
VA bald eagles: The three eaglets were removed from the nest the day after their mother was killed by jet plane. They have been relocated to the Wildlife Center of Virgina and anticipate being released sometime in August. Though I haven’t seen it up yet, it looks like there will be a cam set up at the Wildlife Center.
Phoebe the Allens Hummingbird: Phoebe wasted no time in laying two more eggs after her last chicks fledged. The first chick hatched this past Thursday and the 2nd chick fell out of the nest yesterday. It was returned to the nest, slowly weakened, was removed and taken to a rehabber.
Sales Alerts
Grandma’s Gardens: Through May 8: 25% off roses, tropicals, flowering shrubs, glazed pottery; $5 off hanging baskets
Knollwood Garden Center: Four varieties of peonies are on sale for $14.99 (regularly $24.99); geranium sale starts Thursday, May 5. Zonal geraniums in 4.5″ pots will be $3.99 (regularly $4.99). Trophy Taker daylilies arrive on Thursday but are not on sale.
Andy’s Garden: $12.99 pansy, petunia & alyssum flats; 25% off trees, shrubs, perennials
Vickster's Vine 
Hanging of the May flower cones, brings back memories of when I was a kid. We use to take a cardboard box or a shoe or boot box, decorate it with pretty crepe paper, and lined the inside of box with paper. We then popped pop corn, made homemade fudge and put it all in the box. We layed paper on top of the popcorn and then picked a nice big bouquet of flowers and layed them on the top. This was our “May Basket”.
We usually did this with othr friends, and then we would go to someone’s home after dark,and place it on their front porch steps. We would yell “May Basket”!!! and then run and hide. They would come out see the basket and then have to find us. After finding us they would invite us in the house and would set around and eat the popcorn & candy and visit. We hung May Baskets on neighbors, friends, teachers and Superintendent. So much fun, don’t think anyone does that today!!
Wouldn’t it be nice to bring some of these old traditions back to into practice? How fun it would be to be ‘caught’ and be able to share the goodies and visit.