Ways to Celebrate Gardening in May!

By Teresa Watkins

May is here and the perfect way to get rid of any cabin fever is to celebrate all the garden-related holidays this month. Starting off on May Day, Garden for Wildlife is dedicated this year to encouraging everyone to start gardens that offer resources for wildlife. Creating a small bird sanctuary, growing patio containers of red nectar plants, or sunflowers for bird seed, it?s easy to provide for birds in your neighborhood whether you live in an apartment or on an acre of land. Certify your property with the National Wildlife Federation to receive signs that display your support to inspire others to follow your lead.

May 7th is barely over, and I think it?s safe to say that World Naked Gardening Day, (yes, it?s a real holiday ? since 2004) occurred without any mishaps. What mishaps you ask? Well, Laura Seabolt, garden blogger at You Should Grow, has the naked facts of the hazards of ?au naturel? gardening. Warning ? World Naked Gardening Day is rated R for really funny but it is adult-oriented. You will know what not to do next year.

Cinco De Mayo memorializes the Mexican Army's victory over the French Empire at the Battle of Puebla, on May 5, 1862. How does gardening fit in with this proud festive occasion? By remembering all the plants that originally came from Mexico. Check out my top ten list of native Mexican plants below. Can you guess what they are? Clue: We can grow them all in Florida!

National Public Gardens Week begins May 6th through May 15th. Many public gardens are staying open so that visitors can walk through the gardens and enjoy the beauty of being outdoors. Public gardens are a wonderful opportunity to be inspired. Take advantage of the beautiful weather, taking in various garden themes, visualize new plant combinations, while supporting your local public gardens by visiting them. Here are the top 15 best Florida public gardens to visit. https://www.roadaffair.com/best-botanical-gardens-in-florida-usa/

Mother?s Day is the second Sunday of May every year. This year, we celebrate our Moms on May 8th. My mother?s favorite flowers were lupines and roses. Lupines didn?t grow in Florida, so those were always a special childhood memory for her, but she loved roses. After my siblings and I were no longer little ones, she had a white rose in the yard somewhere. Whenever she was anxious about something, she would pray to St. Theresa of Lisieux asking for a sign that things would be okay. Somehow, by some means, within a short time frame, her prayers were always faithfully answered. One of us children would unknowingly pick up a rose found in the street walking home from school, or a neighbor would stop by with flowers, and even my Dad brought home roses one time that a client had given him to take home. With six children, my Mom didn?t have much time to garden, but she would find time to go out and take a walk around and look at her rose bush. I miss my Momma dearly. How will you celebrate Mother?s Day with your garden? After two years of quarantines, I hope you find a way to let your Mom know that you remember all her love, sacrifices, and comfort she gave you.

Plants to celebrate Cinco De Mayo! Top Ten List of Plants that come from Mexico:

? Agave azul

? Allspice

? Dahlias

? Jacaranda

? Mexican tarragon,

? Orchids

? Poinsettia

? Prickly Pear

? Pitaya

? Sunflower.

How many did you think of?

https://theculturetrip.com/north-america/mexico/articles/mexicos-incredible-trees-plants-and-flowers-and-where-to-find-them/