Is May Day an official holiday?

I loved May Day when I was a kid! The first day in May was a yearly celebration of May baskets, surrepticious door ringing and rapid running. Every year on May Day we got out the construction paper and stapler and created some cone-shaped baskets with little paper hangers. Then we raided the neighborhood flower beds for whatever flowers were blooming. We artfully arranged them in the paper cones (tossed them in), then the fun part began.

After you selected the May basket recipient, you snuck up to their house, hung the basket on the door handle, rang the bell, and RAN! We retreated to a nearby bush or other vantage point so we could see the perplexed neighbor answer the door. Hopefully they would smile as they found the flower basket. That's assuming we hadn't deflowered their own prize roses!

I remember a next door neighbor boy who was a constant source of torment for the girls in the hood. We loaded his May basket with dirt and rocks. It was meant to be an insult, but he probably thought they were "neat" supplies for his next annoying project.

Here's my version of a grownup May basket. I bought these beautiful flowers at the local Farmer's Market last weekend. The peonies are getting a little tired, but the scent is amazing.

So ...while my desk at L*K is overflowing with Halloween motifs, I'm firmly rooted in the beauty of spingtime in Kansas!