One thing about folklore is that you can find a good reason to celebrate all the time!
Why celebrate? Because, according to the Almanac, the passing of these particular 3 days is supposed to mark the safest time to plant!
I think that most of us sort of go by instinct when it comes to the garden, but it never hurts to study what the old timers had to say, ya know?
Three Chilly Saints
May 11, 12, and 13 are the feast days of Saints Mamertus, Pancras, and Gervais. These three are known as the Three Chilly Saints not because they were cold during their lifetimes, but because these days are traditionally the coldest of the month. English and French folklore (and later American) held that these days would bring a late frost. In Germany, they were called the Icemanner, or Icemen Days, and people believed it was never safe to plant until the Icemen were gone. Another bit of folklore claimed, "Who shears his sheep before St. Gervatius's Day loves more his wool than his sheep."
Now, my garden is pretty small! However, I am already eating the cukes and the hot peppers!
The okra is blooming, and I have a lot of green tomatoes on the vines. Lots of blooms on the yellow squash and the bell peppers as well!
I probably shouldn't have planted Catnip in the corner of the garden, but the cats seem to love it and they check it out every day!
That, in turn, keeps the Bluejays from going after the tomatoes, at least so far! We'll see if that continues! Those jays do love fresh, red tomatoes!
Well, my friends, let's have some fresh coffee on the patio this morning! Rain in the forecast, but you know how THAT goes, right?
