The beginning of May marks the beginning of Summer in old English tradition.  The year was divided into two halves -- with Summer beginning on May 1st and Winter beginning on October 31st.  Of course, the weather doesn't always conform to these dates! 

This year, however, the Grove has seen a lovely hot week of sunshine - after the usual amount of copious April showers of rain and hail.  Hopefully, it will continue for a wonderful and warm May Day on May 1st.

The garden is certainly responding to the heat and all sorts of plants are bursting forth with leaves and blossoms.  Here are just a few that my camera caught today!

Easter continues at Meadow Sweet Grove!  How could it not with lovely fresh eggs, courtesy of our neighbours and their urban backyard chickens? The lovely hues of these eggs are their natural colours - there was no need to dye these for the Easter display!  And I think the vintage glass egg cups (a great score scouted out and snatched up by my mother-in-law) provide the perfect pairing.

This unique present got me thinking that backyard chickens would be such a wonderful addition to the Grove.  The coop and run space really doesn't take up that much room for just a few "hobby" chickens.  But, unfortunately, our garden space is very limited right now and we are looking for a bit more room for veggies - not fowls!  But it must have stirred something in my blood ... because during the 1960s and early 1970s, my Dad owned and ran a poultry farm with over 5,000 chickens under his care. 

Here are pics of some of his brood!