Light is the most powerful zeitgeber — the German word, now standard in chronobiology, for an environmental signal that synchronizes the internal clock.

The gardens of May offer extraordinary material: roses in their first flush, peonies at the very end of the month in most climates.

The perennials are pushing up from the ground with varying degrees of vigor. May is the month for close observation, fast action, and genuine satisfaction.

The elderflower lemonade here is built on a cold-infused syrup that preserves the delicate floral quality of the fresh flowers far better than heat extraction would.

A galette is a free-form tart — no tart pan, no fussy crimping, no anxiety about whether the pastry will release cleanly. The rusticity is a feature, not a compromise.