.

These May reflections are part of the Seasonal Reflections series — a year-long practice of living with the rhythm of nature.

May brings all that March and April have promised: new growth, new green, new light and oh, the smell of all the flowers and blooming trees and shrubs! Finally, we’re in full spring mode – even though we may not be used to it yet.

👉 In these May reflections: the garden, the kitchen, and the art of not rushing through the best month of the year.

A few days ago, I left the flat early in the morning and put my shoes on to leave for work. I was still a bit tired, and out of the corner of my eye, I saw my neighbours’ pear tree through the window. It was white, and I thought: “God, it has snowed tonight” – until I realised that the tree was covered in bloom!

And this is exactly what living seasonally in May feels like…

May in Nature

Nights can still be cold, though. Here in Bavaria, we can expect night frosts until mid-May. In fact, starting from May 11, we celebrate the days of the “Frost Saints” (“Eisheilige” in German), a bunch of saints whose commemoration days fall on the last expected frost dates around here. That doesn’t mean, of course, that from May 16 onward there won’t be any more night frosts, but mid-May is pretty accurate.

Everything seems to be happening at once: the grass suddenly shows a lush, vibrant green again, leaves and blooms burst out of trees that were still bare yesterday, and the birds and insects are busily hustling and bustling around.

The fruit trees are not the only plants in courtship mode, though. Early vegetables are ready to be picked as well.

🌿 Living with the rhythm of the seasons?
Join my Seasonal Letters for gentle reflections, monthly guidance, and reminders to slow down with nature.

May In The Garden

While we still had to be careful about what we planted and sowed in the garden in April, now in May, we can finally transplant even the heat-lovers amongst our vegetables.

Remember when we seed-started peppers and chillies in January? Mid to end of May, we can bring them outside.

The cucumbers we grew from scratch? Plant them outdoors after the last night frosts.

If you have a greenhouse, those as well as tomatoes, melons and eggplants can even be transplanted at the beginning of May. Look here for a comprehensive list of what to sow and plant in May.

In many temperate climates, May is also the time of our first outdoor harvest. The radishes we sowed earlier, spinach, peas and salad are the first vegetables ripe for harvest now. I don’t know about you, but my body longs for fresh, homegrown food after all those months of preserves and ferments. A spring salad with eggs is now often all I need.

We can close the gaps that have formed when we harvested these early vegetables by sowing or planting others. This principle is called succession planting and, if done cleverly, it not only makes sure that you use your garden space efficiently, but also keeps pests and diseases at bay. Here you can read up on succession planting in more detail.

Planting, sowing and harvesting are only a few of the tasks we have to do now. Find a list of all garden tasks in May here.

But what to do when it rains? Well, let’s step inside and see.

May In The Kitchen And At Home

When I have planted most of my vegetables, it’s time to clean the windows. Starting from January, when peppers and chillies moved in, my windowsills had become crowded during the last few months. Now, I enjoy the new minimalism with just some orchids – and maybe one or two seed trays with the next batches of veggies for the next gap closing.

To be honest, I don’t do much at home in May regarding cleaning, cause I’m mostly in the garden or outdoors to enjoy the “new green”.

In my opinion, you can either have a great garden or a clean house.

I’m choosing the former.

However, the first harvests need to be preserved. So, if I am indoors, you’ll probably find me in the kitchen, fermenting radishes, cooking woodruff syrup or making honey from dandelions or spruce tips. I mean, is there anything better than picking fresh vegetables from the garden or foraging in the woods and then coming home and making that harvest last?

Don’t let yourself become overwhelmed, though. There’s no need to hustle through May. Instead, let’s see what we can do for ourselves.

Self-Care in May

It’s so lovely to get outside right now. I didn’t know how I’d missed bird song and flowers, the scent of blooming trees, and the warmth on my skin until it all came back.

I don’t know about you, but I just don’t wanna rush through May. Instead, I’d rather choose a slow-living spring.

There’s only one May per year; let’s enjoy it to the fullest with these simple spring self-care ideas.

Self-Care for Body…

It’s easy now to wake up with the light, so why not grab the opportunity to do so? The sun rises early enough to have a long day ahead, but not so early that we get tired by noon. Even if you don’t want to get up with the sun on a workday, try it on the weekend. The slow energy of a May morning and the promise of a whole fine spring day ahead are worth the effort.

Get outdoors whenever you can, no matter the weather. Even a shower of spring rain can be wonderful for the skin (or so I keep telling myself). I, for example, love visiting the botanical garden in my town and enjoying all the blooming plants and the promise of flowers yet to come. But even when my time is limited, I try to enjoy my lunch or coffee break outside. Just a few minutes of sunshine can work miracles.

…For Mind…

Any creative project you do now, do it outside. If that’s not possible, try doing it at an open window.

If you want to learn something new, why not try to make bouquets of wild flowers, make daisy chains or press flowers for later journaling.

Being the classical music lover that I am, May always means Mozart for me. Fortunately, Augsburg has a Mozart festival this month, and I’m looking forward to attending the exceptional performances. If there’s one composer who could capture the light-heartedness and cheerfulness of May, it is Mozart.

I also love reading poems in spring, especially those about spring itself and the power of renewal and new beginnings.

… And Soul

I love taking a few minutes every day and either going outdoors or opening the window and listening to the sound of spring. Often, I close my eyes, cause I can concentrate better that way. If you want to give it a try, check how many different birds you can make out, listen for bees or other insects, and see what other natural sounds you can hear.

When it’s raining, I love sitting next to a window or under the patio roof and watching the splatter of raindrops, hydrating the earth. It’s one of the pillars of the growth that’s now happening abundantly, and instead of complaining about the “bad weather”, let’s make it a habit of being grateful for the rain.

Enjoy The Vibrant Energy of May

May asks us to be present while things speed up.

The key to not getting swept away is simple: step outside. Listen. Smell. Look up at a tree that was bare last week and is now full of green. Drink your coffee in the garden. Pick the first radishes with your hands.

Spring only comes once a year. All those long, dark winter months, we’ve waited for it. Now let us have it.

And although there’s a lot we can finally do again, we don’t have to match Nature’s pace. I rather think that participating in all that spring has to offer outweighs the hustle of productivity.

After all, how better to honour the gift of renewed life than by simply enjoying it?

If these reflections inspired you to get outside or into the kitchen, you might enjoy browsing the garden section for seasonal growing guides, or the preserving section for ideas on what to do with your first harvests. And if you missed last month, you can read my April reflections here.

Want to continue living with the season? Check out all the articles of the Seasonal Reflections Series:

January Reflections: The Beauty of Rest and New Beginnings

February Reflections: Finding Peace in Winter’s Final Stretch

March Reflections: The Season of Transition

April Reflections: Learning From Spring’s Unpredictability

June (coming soon)

July (coming soon)

🌿 Continue the journey: Each month, I send seasonal reflections, garden rhythms, and gentle living inspiration.