The month of May is filled with new things. The freshness of new growth. The delight of seeing little buds appearing on trees and emerging from the ground. The promise of lots of colors to bless our gardens and resplendent ornamental trees beginning to flower. It’s also a time of celebration – coming out of a long season of white into a new month filled with amazing hues of green, red, blue and yellow.

On May 5th we remember and celebrate the Mexican holiday of Cinco de Mayo for their defeat of the French at the Battle of Pueblo in 1862. Our menu of the day may include tacos, enchiladas, Mexican beer or Margaritas. The colors of the Mexican flag will fly, and celebrations occur even if you aren’t Mexican. There were other things that happened on that day.

• Coco Chanel introduced her modern perfume to the world – Chanel #5
• In 1260 Kublai Kahn, the grandson of Genghis Kahn, became the leader of the Mongol Empire.
• in 1865 the 1st US train robbery occurred at North Bend, Ohio.
• In 1917, the first African American, Eugene Bullard, received his pilot’s license to fly for the military.
• In 1925, John Scopes was arrested for teaching evolution.
• In 1969, Norman Mailer received the Pulitzer Prize for his novel, “Armies of the Night.”

So, today enjoy some traditional Mexican food, think about how history has influenced everyone’s life in some way or another and read a book, but try something other than one about evolution.

HAPPY MAY 5TH