Butterflies, copyright Paula Kuitenbrouwer

Does it feel like May in your garden? Here it certainly does. The baby birds have left their birdhouse. Butterflies and bees are everywhere. Flowers bloom and finally we have lunch and dinner outside.

The month May was named for the Greek goddess Maia, who was identified with the Roman era goddess of fertility, Bona Dea, whose festival was held in May. Conversely, the Roman poet Ovid provides a second etymology, in which he says that the month of May is named for the maiores, Latin for “elders,” and that the following month (June) is named for the iuniores, or “young people”.

Here is Sandro Botticelli’s Primavera

Primavera (Allegory of Spring) painting of 1482 by Sandro Botticelli.

The goddess Maia is right of the centre, here in detail:

How beautiful Maia is. She is May and Spring not only because of all her flowers, also because of her somewhat lazy and warm countenance. The sun seems to shine on her face and neck, she shows how spring feels.

Paula