May 26: Memorial Day (originally called Decoration Day) is observed on the last Monday in May. Remembrance is symbolized by the red poppy, an American wildflower.

May 27: Today is the birthday of Rachel Carson (1907), writer, ecologist, and marine biologist. Her courageous book Silent Spring, published in 1962, alerted the world to the dangers of pesticide poisoning.

May 27: Today is also the birthday of garden writer Elizabeth Lawrence (1904).

May 30: Elderflowers are in bloom in some parts of our country.

June 1: Tennessee was admitted as a state on this day. Its state flower: the iris.

• Garlic. Interplant garlic with susceptible plants to repel pests. Make an insect-repellent tea: steep 3 ounces of minced garlic cloves in 2 teaspoons of canola oil for at least 24 hours. Mix 1 teaspoons of liquid castile soap or non-detergent soap (this helps the spray cling to the leaves) with 1 pint water, and add to the garlic oil. Mix thoroughly, strain. To use, mix 2 tablespoons with one pint water and spray. For greater fire-power, add a teaspoon or two of cayenne pepper. Don't get this fierce stuff into your eyes!
• Pyrethrum is derived from Chrysanthemum coccineum, the painted daisy. You can grow the plant in containers or as a border plant, or obtain pyrethrum from your local garden emporium. Dried and powdered, the flower heads are used as direct-contact insecticidal sprays and dusts and are effective against soft-bodied insects. Safe for you, safe for your plants.
• Herbal sprays. Make a strong insect-repellent tea by steeping 2 cups of fresh herb leaves in 3 cups boiling water for 2-3 hours. Strain out plant material. Add 1 teaspoon liquid castile soap or non-detergent soap (to increase its adhesive qualities). Dilute with 2 cups water before spraying. Herbs with repellant personalities: painted daisy (see above), sage, mint, thyme, rosemary, tansy, wormwood, feverfew, rue. Experiment to see what works on your particular pest. (And please remember that a few bugs aren't going to eat up your entire garden. You don't have to get rid of all of them!)
• Diatomaceous earth. This is a non-toxic substance made from crushed fossils of freshwater organisms and marine life. The tiny mineral crystals are sharp, and cut through the skin of soft-bodied insects. Dust on plants, sprinkle on the soil surface. Don't breathe the dry dust; it is not chemically toxic, but may irritate your throat and lungs.

Also read: Rachel Carson's award-winning classic, The Sense of Wonder, which teaches us how to capture the simple power of discovery. Photographs by Nick Kelsh and a new introduction by Carson biographer, Linda Lear.

Dig up the facts about calendula, the International Herb Association's Herb of the Year for 2008. (You'll also enjoy the recipe for Calendula Cornmeal Crisps!)

Learn about the use of various species of iris as a medicinal herb.

Meet Elizabeth Lawrence. If you're a Southern gardener, A Garden of One's Own, by Elizabeth Lawrence, is must-reading for you. (It's just as good for those of us who live in other parts of the country.) "Curling up with these writings is as magical as meandering through a summer garden in the early morning." —Horticulture

Plant an elder in your garden and look forward to years of beautiful blooms. But don't just stand back admire this lovely shrub, learn something of its history and lore and why it was considered to be such a powerful herb, and find out how to make elderberry wine.

Register your book club with Susan's Book Club Friends, and become eligible to participate in contests, giveaways, and phone chats with China's creator. Libraries, this is for you, too!

Check out the information about Susan's 2009 book tour. We're starting to plan her April programs. If you live in the Midwest, your group could be included!

There is a garden in every childhood, an enchanted place where colors are brighter, the air softer, and the morning more fragrant than ever again. —Elizabeth Lawrence

Special thanks to Kathy Thatte, for pointing out that the credit for first serving ice cream in the White House goes to Thomas Jefferson, not Dolley Madison (although surely Dolley's strawberry ice cream should get honorary mention).