EXTRA! MAGNIFICENT, MULTIPURPOSE MINT! PRIZEWINNING RECIPES - THE WONDERS OF BLUNDERS - The Old Farmer's Almanac (2024)

EXTRA! FROM THE OLD FARMER’S ALMANAC MAGNIFICENT, MULTIPURPOSE MINT! PRIZEWINNING RECIPES THE WONDERS OF BLUNDERSMAY 2022 ILLUSTRATION: SQUAREDOT95/GETTY IMAGES

sss CONTENTSFEATURESAMUsem*nTThe Wonders WEATHERof Blunders FORECASTSFOOD How We MakePrizewinning Our PredictionsRecipes from the May U.S.Garden Guide and Canadian Weather ForecastsFOLKLOREA Spicy Alphabet Weather UpdateLIVING NATURALLY DEPARTMENTS WIT Humor MeMagnificent, CALENDAR Grins and groansMultipurpose Mint! May Holidays, from the Almanac Full Moon Names, and More WHAT’S NEXT ASTROLOGY See what we have Best Days to in store for our Do Things June issue! Gardening by the Moon’s Sign ASTRONOMY Sky Map for May FOLLOW US:

sss CALENDAR may Holidays, Full Moon Names, and More may’s birthstone: emerald The emerald, a green type of beryl, ranges from light to rich green; the more saturated hues are more valuable, especially if pure- or blue-green. One of Cleopatra’s favorite gems, the emerald has long been associated with fertility, rebirth, and love. Today, this gemstone signifies wisdom, growth, and patience. Eye on the Sky MAY’S FULL MOON NAMES Flower Moon, Frog Moon, Planting Moon MOON PHASES First Quarter: May 8, 8:21 p.m. EDT Full Moon: May 16, 12:14 a.m. EDT Holiday Happenings Last Quarter: May 22, 2:43 p.m. EDT May 5: Cinco de Mayo New Moon: May 30, 7:30 a.m. EDT May 8: Mother’s Day May 21: Armed Forces Day TAP FOR MORE ABOUT MOON PHASES May 22: National Maritime Day May 23: Victoria Day (Canada) TAP FOR MORE ABOUT MAY’S FULL MOON May 30: Memorial DayPHOTO: LEVON AVAGYAN/SHUTTERSTOCK

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sss ASTROLOGY BEST DAYS TO DO THINGS These May dates, deemed to be propitious in astrology, are based on the astrological passage of the Moon. However, consider all indicators before making any major decisions. –Celeste Longacre AROUND THE HOUSE Dry fruit, vegetables, or meat: 25, 26 Bake: 5, 6 End projects: 30 Brew: 14, 15 Lay shingles: 7–9 Can, pickle, or make sauerkraut: 22–24 Make jams or jellies: 22–24 Demolish: 14, 15 Paint: 12, 13PHOTO: PIXABAY

sss ASTROLOGYStart projects: 1 Cut hay: 25, 26Wash floors: 22–24 Purchase animals: 5, 6Wash windows: 25, 26 Set eggs: 11–13, 21, 22 Slaughter livestock: 14, 15OUTDOORS Wean animals: 24, 29Begin logging: 18, 19 PERSONALGo camping: 16, 17Go fishing: 1–16, 30, 31 Advertise to sell: 14, 15Set posts or pour concrete: 18, 19 Ask for a loan: 27, 28 Begin diet to gain weight: 1, 11IN THE GARDEN Begin diet to lose weight: 24, 29Destroy pests and weeds: 25, 26 Buy a home: 14, 15Graft or pollinate: 5, 6 Color hair: 1, 27, 28Harvest aboveground crops: 10, 11 Cut hair to discourage growth: 27, 28Harvest belowground crops: 27, 28 Cut hair to encourage growth:Mow to promote growth: 14, 15 12, 13Mow to slow growth: 27, 28 Entertain: 7–9Pick fruit: 10, 11 Get married: 12, 13Plant aboveground crops: 5, 6 Have dental care: 10, 11Plant belowground crops: 22–24 Move (house/household): 2–4,Prune to discourage growth: 25, 26 29–31Prune to encourage growth: 7–9 Perm hair: 20, 21 Quit smoking: 24, 29ON THE FARM Straighten hair: 16, 17Breed animals: 14, 15 Travel for pleasure: 7–9Castrate animals: 20, 21 Wean children: 24, 29

sss ASTROLOGY gardening by the moon’s sign Use the May dates shown in the Moon’s Astrological Place calendar below to find the best days for the following garden tasks: TAP FOR PLANT, TRANSPLANT, AND GRAFT: Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces, or Taurus MERCURY IN+ RETROGRADE HARVEST: Aries, Leo, Sagittarius, Gemini, or Aquarius DATES BUILD/FIX FENCES OR GARDEN BEDS: Capricorn TAP FOR MAY MOON CONTROL INSECT PESTS, PLOW, AND WEED: Aries, Gemini, Leo, PHASES Sagittarius, or Aquarius PRUNE: Aries, Leo, or Sagittarius. During a waxing Moon, pruning encourages growth; during a waning Moon, it discourages growth. THE MOON’S ASTROLOGICAL PLACE IN MAY 1 Taurus 9 Leo 17 Sagittarius 25 Aries 2 Gemini 10 Virgo 18 Capricorn 26 Aries 3 Gemini 11 Virgo 19 Capricorn 27 Taurus 4 Gemini 12 Libra 20 Aquarius 28 Taurus 5 Cancer 13 Libra 21 Aquarius 29 Gemini 6 Cancer 14 Scorpio 22 Pisces 30 Gemini 7 Leo 15 Scorpio 23 Pisces 31 Gemini 8 Leo 16 Sagittarius 24 PiscesPHOTO: PIXABAY

MERCURY IN RETROGRADESometimes the other planets appearto be traveling backward through thezodiac; this is an illusion. We call thisillusion retrograde motion. Mercury’s retrograde periods cancause our plans to go awry. However, thisis an excellent time to reflect on the past.Intuition is high during these periods,and coincidences can be extraordinary. When Mercury is retrograde, remainflexible, allow extra time for travel, andavoid signing contracts. Review projectsand plans at these times, but wait untilMercury is direct again to make any finaldecisions. Mercury’s 2022 retrograde periods:May 10–June 2, September 9–October 1,and December 28–(January 18, 2023). –Celeste LongacreCelebrating its 45th anniversary in 2022,the best-selling Old Farmer’s AlmanacGardening Calendar is filled withbeautiful art, helpful tips, insightfulquotes, and an easy-to-use grid withholidays and Moon phases. Order yourstoday at Almanac.com/Shop.

sss ASTRONOMY All About Asterisms A n asterism is an easily recognized star pattern that lies within a constellation. Unlike constellations, asterisms are entirely “unofficial.” There is no international TAP TO GET organization or governing body that assigns names to A PRINTABLE MAY SKY MAP asterisms. Their names have come into popular usage because they are a convenience—an easy way to navigate the sky. If TAP TO you wish, feel free to identify and name your own asterisms. FOLLOW OHIOAN JEFF Who knows? Your names might catch on! DETRAY’S SKY For a fine example of an asterism, look near the center of ADVENTURES this month’s star map for the Keystone, a compact pattern of four stars that lies within the constellation Hercules, the Hero. Hercules is a sprawling constellation, the fifth largest in the sky, but the distinctive shape of the Keystone really stands out. Above and to the right of the Keystone is the constellation Corona Borealis, the Northern Crown. To me, this semicircle

sss ASTRONOMYof stars looks far more like a tiara than a crown, so The Tiara it is, at least for me. Higher in the sky lies Boötes, the Herdsman, whose main stars form anasterism known as The Kite. It’s a sloppy-looking kite, to be sure, but theshape is certainly suggestive of one—enough so that it can help you to getyour bearings and find Boötes. The bright star Arcturus anchors the tail ofThe Kite. Off to the left, look for the Little Dipper asterism, part of the constellationUrsa Minor, the Lesser Bear. At the end of the dipper’s handle is Polaris, theNorth Star. From brightly lit suburbs, you’ll see only Polaris and the brighterstars of the dipper’s bowl. Leave town to see the whole dipper. Between the Little Dipper and The Kite slithers the body of Draco, theDragon, which culminates in the Dragon’s Head, a four-sided asterism thatshows up well when viewed from a dark location. Below the Dragon’s Head, look for two very bright stars that point the wayto a great pair of asterisms, one small and the other quite large. The star Vega in the small constellation Lyra, the Lyre, achieved notoriety ashome to the fictional aliens who sent a message to Earth in the 1997 Jodie Fosterfilm Contact. Beneath Vega is a small but beautifully symmetrical asterism, theParallelogram. Its exquisite and geometrically perfect shape is a wonder. To the lower left is the bright star Deneb, marking the tip of the NorthernCross, which lies on its side at this time of year. Deneb and the NorthernCross are part of the large constellation Cygnus, the Swan. The name“Deneb” is derived from the Arabic word for “tail,” and indeed Deneb sitsat the tail of the Swan. The left side of our sky map features The House, an asterism within theconstellation Cepheus, the King. Yes, it’s a lopsided house, but no morelopsided than the ones we all drew as children. We’ve already mentioned that Vega and Deneb can help you to find twolovely asterisms. These two stars, plus brilliant Altair, comprise the threecorners of the large asterism known as the Summer Triangle, marked inpurple on our Sky Map. The Summer Triangle will be prominent in the skyfrom now well into autumn. –Jeff DeTray

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AMUsem*nT The Wonders of Blunders Proof that some errors are not mistakes—just happy accidents. ILLUSTRATION: SQUAREDOT95/GETTY IMAGES

AMUsem*nT TO AVOID ALL MISTAKES IN THE CONDUCT OF GREAT ENTERPRISES IS BEYOND MAN’S POWERS. –Fabius Maximus, Roman politician (c. 275–203 b.c.)M ost people WHEN YOU DON’T TURN A PROBLEM try to avoid GET WHAT YOU INTO A SOLUTION. making WANT, WANT WHAT In the late 1960s,mistakes, yet YOU GET. scientists at 3Mpsychologists say that In the 1930s, DuPont Company developedlearning from our chemist Roy Plunkett a glue to paste piecesmistakes can help us was trying to develop a of paper together.to lead happier lives. better refrigerator. The The sheets stuck,In fact, the history of chemical that he created but they came apartinnovation is filled to be a coolant failed to easily, making the gluewith tales of goofs that perform as expected; worthless—or so it wasturned into happy it was too slippery. thought until later,accidents, from penicillin Rather than throw it when an employee(discovered when an out, Plunkett considered named Art Fry used theexperiment acquired other uses. Today, we fickle adhesive to makebread mold) to Silly know this chemical as a bookmarks. With that,Putty (a failed attempt to nonstick coating: Teflon. the Post-it was born.invent artificial rubber),to name but two. You must make your own To make mistakes as we are Make no mistake about blunders, must cheerfully on the way to knowledge isthis: You can learn how accept your own mistakes as far more honorable thanto benefit from your part of the scheme of things. to escape making themblunders. Take note –Minnie Fiske, American through never having setof these five tips and actress (1865–1932) out to seek knowledge.timeless words of wisdom –R. C. Trench, Irish prelatethat can help us all to (1807–86)make successful errors.

AMUsem*nTREMEMBER THAT FOLLOW YOUR KEEP AN OPEN MIND.SOMETIMES ONE ERRORS WHERE Some of the world’sWRONG CAN MAKE THEY LEAD YOU. leading firms pay theirTWO RIGHTS. In 1492, Christopher employees to conceiveIn 1856, while Columbus set out in of products andconducting experiments search of a sea route to services that don’t—to find a cure for the Far East, but instead and won’t—work. It’smalaria, teenage lab came upon America. called brainstorming:assistant William Perkin Once, in the 1930s, setting no bounds onfound that one of his while flying over the ideas and expectationssolutions dyed cloth. jungles of Venezuela as a way to stimulateFascinated by the failed in search of treasure thinking. Withoutantidote, he was inspired below, bush pilot Jimmie the freedom of such ato sell it as a colorfast Angel found the world’s forum, the concepts ofdye. This decision highest waterfall—a the bookseller withoutmade him a rich man. cataract known today as a bookstore (Amazon.(And years later, while Angel Falls. com) and the warehouseusing Perkin’s dye to as a store (Costco)stain microscope slides, Mistakes are the portals of might never have beendoctors did discover a discovery. developed.malaria cure.) –James Joyce, Irish writer (1882–1941) Anyone who has neverMistakes are often the best made a mistake has neverteachers. tried anything new.–James A. Froude, English –Albert Einstein, Americanhistorian (1818–94) physicist (1879–1955) –Nick D’Alto

FOOD Prizewinning Recipesfrom the Garden GuideEach year in The Old Farmer’s Almanac Garden Guide, we invite our audienceto enter our Reader Recipe Contest. Over the years, we’ve asked for your favorite recipes using tomatoes, strawberries, sweet potatoes, zucchini, and manyother garden-fresh ingredients. Here you’ll find winners from our recent contests to give you an idea of the range of delicious recipes that we receive. To learn more about our contests, go to Almanac.com. PHOTO: BECKY LUIGART-STAYNER

FOODStuffed MashedPotatoes PHOTO: BECKY LUIGART-STAYNER

FOOD STUFFED MASHED POTATOES 2 pounds russet potatoes 1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 1/2 pound mozzarella cheese, cut into 12 pieces 3 ounces pepperoni, finely chopped 3 tablespoons seasoned bread crumbs Preheat oven to 400°F. Wash and prick potatoes and bake for about 35 minutes, or until they can be pierced with a fork. Leave oven on and grease a 12-cup muffin tin. While potatoes are hot, peel them. Put through a ricer or shred with a grater. In a bowl, combine potatoes, butter, salt, garlic powder, and pepper and mix until butter has melted. Fill each muffin cup about halfway with potato mixture. Place one piece of mozzarella in each cup. Divide pepperoni evenly between cups and top with remaining potatoes. Sprinkle bread crumbs on top. Return to oven and bake for 10 to 12 minutes. Unmold immediately and serve. Makes 12 servings. PHOTO: BECKY LUIGART-STAYNER

FOOD Blueberry– Kidney Bean Salad With Fresh VegetablesPHOTO: BECKY LUIGART-STAYNER

FOOD BLUEBERRY–KIDNEY BEAN SALAD WITH FRESH VEGETABLES 1 can (15.5 ounces) red kidney beans 1 sweet onion 1 medium tomato 1 green bell pepper 1-1/2 cups fresh blueberries 1/4 cup crumbled feta cheese 8 tablespoons apple cider vinegar 4 tablespoons olive oil 1 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 1/4 teaspoon curry powder Rinse and drain the kidney beans and place in a bowl. Cut vegetables into bite-size pieces and add to the kidney beans. Stir in blueberries, feta, vinegar, olive oil, salt, black pepper, and curry powder. Cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving. Makes 4 servings. Looking for more great recipes? Get a copy of our best-selling cookbook with recipes from you, our readers. The Old Farmer’s Almanac Readers’ Best Recipes is filled with tried-and-true recipes that keep folks coming back for more, plus the stories behind them! Store.almanac.com/cookbook-readers-best-recipes/PHOTO: BECKY LUIGART-STAYNER

FOODPapa’s Sugar Peaand Veggie MedleyPHOTO: LORI PEDRICK

FOOD PAPA’S SUGAR PEA AND VEGGIE MEDLEY 3 cups fresh sugar snap peas 1/2 cup baby carrots, sliced vegetable oil 1/2 cup sliced mushrooms 1/2 cup diced bell peppers 1/2 cup chopped onion 1 small zucchini, sliced 1 cup ham cubes 2 tablespoons butter 10 drops hot sauce garlic salt, to taste freshly ground black pepper, to taste 1 egg, beaten 3 medium red potatoes, cooked and sliced 1/2 cup shredded Colby Jack cheese 1 cup spinach leaves In a large pot of boiling water, blanch peas and carrots. Drain and set aside. Coat the bottom of a 10- or 12-inch skillet with vegetable oil and warm over medium heat. Add mushrooms, bell peppers, onions, and zucchini and cook for 5 minutes. Add peas, carrots, and ham and cook for 5 minutes, stirring often. As mixture is stirred, add butter, hot sauce, garlic salt, and black pepper. Pour egg over mixture. Fold in egg, potatoes, and cheese. Cover and cook on medium for 5 minutes. Tear spinach into pieces and fold into mixture for final 2 minutes of cooking. Makes 8 servings.PHOTO: LORI PEDRICK

FOLKLOREA Spicy Alphabet People have been trading and enjoying spices for centuries.Some of their uses, both modern and ancient, may surprise you. PHOTO: ROXILLER/GETTY IMAGES

FOLKLORE• Anise seeds are used seafood dishes; baked seed” because they likedin baked goods and goods; and dressings. to chew the seeds duringstews. In 1305, money Roman gladiators meetings. Today, it iscollected from importing thought that it helped used in India as a breathanise was used to pay them to be better freshener.for repairs to England’s fighters. It was onceLondon Bridge. given to babies to stop • Gingerroot is used in their crying. baked goods and Indian• Basil leaves are used cooking. Ginger ale wasin tomato sauces, pesto, invented in England andand Thai food. Ancient THE Ireland in the 1800s,Greeks believed that MISNOMERED after people beganbasil brought bad luck. SPICE sprinkling the root onAncient Romans believed Pumpkin pie spice top of beer.that it symbolized love, contains no fruitas do modern Italians. or pie. It is a blend • Horseradish, theSome cultures used it to of cinnamon, ginger, root of the horseradishcure scorpion bites and nutmeg, cloves, plant, is used in sauces.keep scorpions away. and allspice. It thrives in potash- rich soil near St. Louis,• Cinnamon, from Missouri, an areathe dried inner bark • Estragon (aka known as “the Americanof evergreen trees, is tarragon) leaves are bottoms” because it wasused in baked goods used in sauces, mustard, carved out by glaciersand Middle Eastern, meat and fish dishes, and eons ago.Indian, and Southeast soups. They were wasAsian cooking. Ancient once believed to cure • Indian arrowroot, aRomans believed its poisonous bites or the starch made from thefragrance to be sacred bites of mad dogs. Maranta arundinaceaso burned it at funerals. plant, is used as aCinnamon sticks are • Fennel seeds are used thickener in cooking. Itscalled quills. in fish, sausage, and name stems from its use curry dishes and in in healing wounds from• Dill is used in pickling; baked goods. Puritans poisoned arrows. It wascheese, meat, and called it “the meeting also used on scorpion

FOLKLOREand black spider bites. drinks, sweets, and lamb The seeds symbolize dishes. Mice hate the sleep, and legend has it• Juniper berries, from scent of it! Some people that poppy flowers growthe juniper shrub, are use mint oil to try to get where battles have beenused in marinades, rid of them. fought.sauerkraut, sausage,soups, and stuffing. The • Nutmeg seeds, • Quassia is used toberries did not grow ground, are used in flavor baked goods,in Egypt but have been sausages, meats, soups, aperitifs, and softfound in ancient tombs desserts, and eggnog. drinks. Its intense bitterthere; they were used for Connecticut, officially taste comes from themaking mummies. called the Constitution evergreen’s bark and State, is also nicknamed wood. It is also used for• Knotted marjoram’s the Nutmeg State medicinal purposes asunopened flower buds because—it is said— a digestive and to treatresemble knots. Dried peddlers from there once fevers. It was namedflowers and leaves are sold folks to the south after a former slave,used in meat dishes, carved, wooden nutmegs botanist, and healerstuffing, breads, and instead of real ones. from Suriname, Gramandressings. Ancient Quassi, who is said toGreeks believed that if it • Oregano leaves are have discovered thewere planted on a grave used in spaghetti sauces. medicinal purposes ofsite, the deceased would The word “oregano” is the bark.be happy for eternity. Greek and means “joy of the mountain.” It • Rosemary leaves are• Lavender flowers are was once used to cure used in meat dishes.used in baked goods. In the “sour humors” Ancient Greeks braided17th-century London, (bad moods) of elderly rosemary into their hairpeople sometimes wore farmers. because they thoughtlavender around their that this would boostwrist in the belief that it • Poppy seeds are used their brain power.would protect them from in baked goods andthe Black Plague. dressings. In The Wizard • Sesame seeds are of Oz, a field of poppies used in baked goods,• Mint leaves are used in puts Dorothy to sleep. dressings, candy, and

FOLKLOREMiddle Eastern, Asian, pineapple and is a food pepper, is used in manyand Muslim cooking. source. ways. In the MiddleThey symbolize good Ages, Europeans oftenluck. A drawing on a • Vanilla’s dried used pepper like money,4,000-year-old Egyptian beans, or pods, are to pay rent and taxes.tomb depicts a baker used in baked goodsadding them to his and sweets. In 1841, • Xun sun is Mandarindough. Chinese for basil. One species, Perilla, is used in• Thyme leaves are used THE MOST stir fries and tempuras. Itin stuffing, meat and EXPENSIVE is believed to repel ticksfish dishes, and “tussie- SPICE if rubbed on skin andmussies”—bouquets Saffron comes from clothing.of aromatic herbs and crocus flowers. Eachflowers tied together crocus flower has • Yellow julienne, thewith a ribbon. In the three stigmas (sticky leaves of the rocketMiddle Ages, people parts of the flower plant, is used in salads.wore the bouquets to that pollen lands In France, people oncecover bad smells and on). It takes 225,000 believed that it curedgain protection from stigmas to make 1 laryngitis. Some peopledisease. pound of saffron. call it herbe au chantre This is why saffron (cantor’s herb, or herb of• Umbrella tree’s sweet, can cost up to high praise).pandanus flowers are $5,000 per pound.used to flavor sweets • Zeller, Hungarian forand to make kewra celery, is dried fruit fromwater in northern India. on Reunion Island, a plant related to theIn Southeast Asia, the 12-year-old Edmond vegetable stalk and isleaves of a different Albius discovered how to used in breads, pickling,species of pandanus are pollinate vanilla flowers dressings, and soups.folded to make 3/4-inch by hand. His method is Celery was originally usedboxes for sweets. On still used today. as a medicine. Its firstSouth Pacific islands, mention as food occurredthe fruit of yet another • White pepper, from in France in 1623.species resembles the same berry as black –Alice Cary

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L I V I N G N AT U R A L LY Magnificent,Multipurpose Mint! PHOTO: PIXABAY

L I V I N G N AT U R A L LYW hat do Think salvias, agastaches, cilantro to make mint you know and lavenders, bee pesto. We like to add about the balms, hyssop, and a couple tablespoonsmint family, Lamiaceae? Russian sage. All summer of fresh chopped mint The most common long, they produce to peas, green beans,and popular mints nectar-rich blossoms carrots, cauliflower,for growing have that attract bees and or zucchini to createtraditionally been beneficial pollinators minted vegetables!peppermint (Mentha along with an occasional 2. Drinks—Freeze a fewx piperita), native hummingbird. trays of strong mint tea,spearmint (M. spicata), Many, if not most, then use the ice cubes forScotch spearmint (M. x mint family members cooling summer drinks!gracilis), and cornmint contain strongly Add mint leaves or cubes(M. arvensis); more aromatic oils (think to mojitos, iced tea, orrecently, this list has lavender, rosemary, fresh lemonade.grown to include apple basil, thyme, and sage), 3. Tea—Why buy mintmint (M. suaveolens). which accounts for tea when it’s so easy Mint provides most of their many uses as to make? What weour common culinary seasonings, flavorings, usually call the “mints”herbs (e.g., basil, and perfuming agents. (peppermint, spearmint,oregano, marjoram, apple mint, etc.) arerosemary, sage, thyme, 12 USES FOR MINT traditional tea herbs. Justand summer and winter LEAVES steep your fresh mintsavories). There are many safe uses leaves in boiling water Plus, there are dozens for mint-family herbs for about 5 minutes(perhaps hundreds) of besides beautifying your and serve. It’s a greattraditional medicinal gardens. Here is just a digestive aid after dinner.herbs, not to mention sampling: Apple mint is one of mymany aromatics for use 1. Food—Peppermints favorites, with more mintin flavorings, perfumes, are especially good flavor and less aftertaste.and cosmetics. culinary mints, ideal for 4. Hair rinse—Add You’ll also find mints chopping into salads, one part strong mintamong our favorite sprinkling over fruit, or (especially rosemary) tealandscaping plants. combining with basil or to one part cider vinegar

L I V I N G N AT U R A L LYfor a conditioning rinse refrigerate the mixture into the leg of an oldthat you can either leave for several hours. Gently nylon stocking. Suspendin or rinse out. The apply to the burned area by a string inside avinegary smell dissipates with cotton pads. garment bag, tuck intoafter drying. 9. Breath freshener— bags of stored woolen5. Facial astringent— Just chew on a few clothing, or just placeAdd a few finely mint leaves! Sage teas in your dresser drawersminced leaves of fresh and extracts have been to let your clothes soakpeppermint or other used for centuries as up the scent. Refreshmint to a cup of witch a mouthwash for oral periodically.hazel. Store in a glass infections. Don’t use or 12. Bug repellent—jar for a week or more, chew mint-family herbs When ants come intoshaking occasionally. if you’re breastfeeding, the kitchen during theStrain the herbs from the as even small amounts summer, placing a fewmixture after a week. of sage and peppermint stems of mint, gently6. Mouthwash—Chop may reduce milk supply. crushed, near suspected1/4 cup of fresh mint, 10. Scent up a space— entry points really doesbee balm, lemon balm, Keep your home deter ants. You need tobasil, thyme, or oregano smelling fresh by adding replace the mint withleaves and infuse in a a few drops of mint fresh material every fewquart of boiling water. essential oil to your days. Also, keep petsWhen cool, strain the favorite unscented flea-free by stuffing aherbs and store in the cleaner or just take a small pillow with freshrefrigerator. cotton ball and dab onto spearmint and thyme7. Mint bath—Steep a a lightbulb. and placing it near yourhandful of mint leaves 11. Moth repellent/ pet’s bed.in a pint of hot water for scented sachet—Tie Of course, mint isn’tabout 10 minutes, then a few branches of used only to deter bugs;strain. Add to bathwater strongly scented mint it also attracts beneficialfor an invigorating, (peppermint, sage, insects and pollinators.stress-free soak. lavender, rosemary, Bees, butterflies, and8. Ease sunburn bee balm) together or hover flies love mint,pain—Make a strong pull off a handful of which is rich in nectarpeppermint tea and leaves and stuff them and pollen.

L I V I N G N AT U R A L LYMEDICINAL USES other assaults from the Seek out as muchOF MINT environments in which information as you canMint has long been they evolved. from books, onlineviewed as an herbal Interestingly, there are sources, and experiencedremedy, easing queasy even studies showing herbalists in your area.stomachs, calming that spearmint is Inform your healthcarestress and anxiety, and beneficial to honeybees practitioner wheneverpromoting restful sleep. by cleaning out the mites you begin using an Peppermint tea is that infect their hives. herbal remedy.known to be an excellent Most herbalistsway to ease an upset . . . BUT ALWAYS BE recommend staying awaystomach, calming the SURE TO USE WITH from ingesting essentialdigestive tract and CAUTION oils as medicines unlessalleviating indigestion, If herbal medicine you are under thegas, and cramps. interests you, please care and observation Mint has also been approach the mints— of a medical providerused for centuries in especially their essential experienced with herbaltraditional medicine. oils, tinctures, and medicines. Many—perhaps concentrated extracts— Out of an abundancemost—mints are also with care. of caution, herbalistsused for human and This goes for both also urge pregnantveterinary medicine, over-the-counter and and breast-feedingas insecticides or homemade remedies. moms—as well as peopleinsect repellents, Although many have with serious chronicand as antifungal or been used by traditional diseases—to avoid usingantibacterial protection healers around the world mint-family essentialfor crop plants. for centuries, most oils, even in massage oils. Mints are potent herbs haven’t undergone –Margaret Boylesplants, full of rigorous testing for safetyphytocompounds that and efficacy, especiallyplants manufacture in pregnant/nursing TAP TO READ MORE OFto protect themselves women, children, elders,  MARGARET BOYLES’S POSTS IN HER “LIVINGagainst harmful and people with chronic NATURALLY” BLOGbacteria, viruses, and illnesses.

sss W E AT H E R F O R EC A S TS A COLD MAY IS GOOD FOR CORN AND HAY. How We Make Our predictions We derive our weather forecasts from a secret formula that was devised by the founder of this Almanac, Robert B. Thomas, in 1792. Thomas believed that weather on Earth was influenced by sunspots, which are magnetic storms on the surface of the Sun. Over the years, we have refined and enhanced this for- mula with state-of-the-art technology and modern scien- tific calculations. We employ three scientific disciplines to make our long-range predictions: solar science, the study of TAP TO FIND sunspots and other solar activity; climatology, the study of OUT THE WEATHER prevailing weather patterns; and meteorology, the study of HISTORY OF the atmosphere. We predict weather trends and events by THE DAY comparing solar patterns and historical weather conditions LOVE ALL with current solar activity. THINGS Our forecasts emphasize temperature and precipitation de- WEATHER? viations from averages, or normals. These are based on 30-year TAP FOR THE statistical averages prepared by government meteorological WEATHER FOLKLORE agencies and updated every 10 years. Our forecasts are based OF THE DAY on the tabulations that span the period 1981 through 2010. We believe that nothing in the universe happens haphaz- ardly, that there is a cause-and-effect pattern to all phenom- ena. However, although neither we nor any other forecast- ers have as yet gained sufficient insight into the mysteries of the universe to predict the weather with total accuracy, our results are almost always very close to our traditional claim of 80 percent. CELSIUS–FAHRENHEIT TABLEPHOTO: PIXABAY

sss W E AT H E R F O R EC A S TS U.S. Weather Regions 15 9 1 12 13 6 3 2 10 16 7 14 4 8 11 5 17 18 canadian Weather Regions CLICK HERE TO FIND MAY WEATHER PREDICTIONS  FOR THE U.S. AND CANADIAN 6 REGIONS Y.T. NUNAVUT 7 N.W.T. N.L. B.C. ALTA. QUE. SASK. MAN. 1 ONT. P.E.I. Southern Atlantic 5 British 2 Canada Southern N.B. Columbia 4 The Prairies 3 Southern Ontario Quebec N.S.

sss W E AT H E R U P DAT E Olé, May! O n May 5—Cinco de Mayo—watch for some chaparrones (showers) across the Northeast, while the weather will be soleado (sunny) and cálido (warm) from the mid-Atlantic to the Southeast. Lluvia (rain) will fall across portions of Florida. Sunshine is expected from the Ohio Valley through the Midwest. Some tormentas (thunderstorms) will fire up across portions of the Plains. The western U.S. will generally be fresco (cool), with some showers. Spotty showers and even a few thunderstorms will move across much of Canada. The Kentucky Derby will be run on the first Saturday in May—the 7th—at Churchill Downs in Louisville, and it’s looking like the weather will again be rosy for the 148th “Run for the Roses.” A cool day is on the way despite some sunshine, and the track should be “fast” for the third year in a row. On Mother’s Day, May 8, Mom and her flowers will be basking in sunshine across much of the East due to early-season warmth, although cool, showery weather may persist in New England. The warm air will help to spark thunderstorms from the Great Lakes and Ohio Valley into the Upper Midwest. Rain pockets will linger across the Rockies and Northwest, while mothers across the Southwest will enjoy a sunny, comfortable day. Heavy rain will wet Mom’s hair in eastern Hawaii. Showers may pop up across central and eastern Canada, as well as some flurries out toward the Northwest Territories.PHOTO: PIXABAY

sss W E AT H E R U P DAT E For Victoria Day in Canada on May 23, the weather looks cool and showeryacross the Maritimes, while there will be some breaks of sun along with the riskof spotty showers from Quebec through Ontario. Springtime thunderstormswill accompany mild weather in the Prairies, while showers impact northernand western parts of Canada. Although we don’t expect this Memorial Day weekend (May 28–30) tobe as brisk as it was last year for much of the central and eastern U.S., it willbe cool with some showers from New England through the Appalachians.Thunderstorms will help to usher in the unofficial start of summer across theEast, especially across Florida. Generally drier weather is expected farther westacross the Deep South and into portions of the Plains. Early-season heat will beraging across the interior Southwest, with a marine layer keeping it cooler nearthe coast. Even the Pacific Northwest will be on the warm side, with widespreadsunshine. Some rounds of rain will move across Alaska and Hawaii. In the month of May overall, temperatures will be above normal acrossmuch of the eastern two-thirds of the U.S. Most of these areas will see a drier-than-normal May, although portions of the mid-Atlantic and Southeast maybuck this trend a bit. Across much of the West, the wet season will try tohold on longer as it turns out cooler than average from the Rockies to theWest Coast, with near- or above-normal precipitation. Elsewhere, it lookslike a warm May for Alaska and a wet one in Hawaii. Across Canada, it lookswet from the Prairies off to the north and west, while the weather will besomewhat drier and warmer than normal across Ontario and Quebec. Expecta wet May in the Maritimes, with near-normal temperatures. The Atlantic hurricane season officially runs from June 1 through November30, and we’re coming off two very active years thanks in part to La Niñaconditions in the Pacific. This 2022 season will feature near- or slightly above-average activity, with La Niña weakening. If this season’s count does indeedend up above average, it would be the seventh straight above-average season interms of the number of named storms. The best chance for a major hurricanestrike will be in Georgia or the Carolinas in mid-September, with tropical stormthreats in Texas from mid- to late June, the Southeast from mid- to late August,and the Deep South from mid- to late July and in late October. –Michael Steinberg, Old Farmer’s Almanac meteorologist

sss WIT humor me grins and groans from the almanac No Laughing Matter “I can send you one, humor?” Twain asked Mark Twain once a fine young fellow,” cautiously. approached a the friend said. “He “A sense of humor? businessman friend came to my office Indeed, he has! In fact, and confided to yesterday in search of he got off one or two him that he needed a position, but I didn’t witty things himself the services of a have an opening.” yesterday,” the friend stenographer. “Has he a sense of hastened to assureILLUSTRATION: DRANTE/GETTY IMAGES

sss WITTwain. seem to budge. The other day, when “Sorry, but he won’t “See here,” the string one of the bells rang,do, then. I had one bean said. “Surely you he answered the callonce before with a have room for me. And and then came to tellsense of humor, and besides, according to an me that my wife was onit interfered too much Act of Congress, each the line.with the work. I can bench is constructed to “‘Which one?’ Inot afford to pay a man allow for only 18 inches asked.$2 a day for laughing.” of space per person.” “‘I’m sorry, sir,’ the “Well,” retorted boy said. ‘I don’t knowNot Built That Way one of the seated, “it how many you have!’”Two big, burly men got may be all well andonto a train in Harpers good for you that the Photo FinishFerry, where they bench was constructed A woman once enteredproceeded to occupy according to an Act of the studio of a well-well more than their Congress, but just for known photographerfair share of a three- your information, we in Buffalo andperson bench. weren’t.” asked, “Are you the At a stop outside photographer?”Washington, what Polyphony Polygamy “Yes, madam.”appeared to be a tall, A Philadelphia “Do you takecadaverous-looking, businessman was children’s pictures?”government bureaucrat telling telephone tales. “Yes, certainly.”with a briefcase “In this city,” he “How much do youboarded, only to find said, “we have two charge?”that the only available telephone companies, “Three dollars aseat apparently was so in my office I have dozen.”between the two one receiver for each. “Oh, well,” said thetravelers. Last week, I hired a woman ruefully. “I’ll He tried to wedge new office boy, and have to see you againhimself between the one of his duties was sometime, as I onlytwo, who could not to answer the phone. have 11.”

sss WHAT’S NEXT CALENDAR AMUsem*nT ASTRONOMY Moon phases; JunePeculiar Laws That Explore with birthstone, holidays,Explain Everything our Sky Map and full Moon names GARDENING LIVING Summertime NATURALLY Is Lily Time FOOD Take a Believe It or Not, Deep Breath! It’s Time for Pie! Plus: Weather Update • U.S. and Canadian Weather Forecasts • Gardening by the Moon’s Sign • Best Days to Do Things • • Humor • and much more in the June EXTRA! CELEBRATING THE ALMANAC’S 231ST YEAR!