They say April is the cruelest month, yet May is the meanest month. Maine in May brings the promise of Spring with the desire for Summer. It holds the torrent of an Autumn rain and the frosty kiss of Winter. May is the time of Life and Death, of Do or Don’t Do. It is predictable in its’ unpredictable ways.
In May we run gingerly across the bright green grass and gather armloads of Daffodils before the rain beats the soft buttery petals into slug food. We plant Peas and gather Dandelion greens while the new Garlic leaves wave Hello. The next day can bring death to tiny nurtured seedlings by forgetting to cover or water or open or close a door. Other green children surprise me with their strength or mere presence. How did that the Lungwort get so huge? (Thanks Leslie - I always think of you in Spring.)
In May I don’t hurry to put away that Winter vest or those heavy wooly socks. We keep the wood box full and watch for 100 year Spring floods. I do dig out my summer sleeveless shirts and shorts and soak up the first warm days in the garden. One must feel the sun and breathe deeply of the scents of birth and Life. So enjoy and savor the easy joy of it all, for soon…usually the first week in May…it happens. The joy is sucked away. Along with pints of unauthorized blood donations, for the Black Flies have arrived.
And they are more than cruel - they are mean.
Now the garden chores take on an intensity as we pull weeds and swat our ears. No more strolling serenely and gazing about. Now we stumble and weave and wave our arms. Some call it the Black Fly Shuffle, though I think it may only attract the little buggers.
How do we deal with these annoying, insipid creatures? I avoid the Deet, despite the dire warnings that nothing else will work. I could explain it all in technical terms of the nasty chemical composition that neither you or I can fully comprehend or simply tell the bottom line truth - it gives me severe headaches. There are various natural products out there made with citronella that work well for me when I must use something. I also employ the ancient concept of a layer of oil. Avon used this concept when someone noticed the additional benefit of one of their skin so softeners. (Smirk)
Others don the baffling bug nets and this is my first line of defense if I must be outside in a swarm. (Especially if I’m standing at the potting table for an hour or so.) Just remember to tuck in those loose ends people!
I sometimes use the Bug Whisperer approach. This does work and I’ve heard this theory from others as well. I simply and quietly state that I must be outside for a while and I would appreciate it if the Blackfly herd could respect that and not chew me to bits. I will allow a few small bites as a Thank You for their respect. Too many bites and I will grab one by the wings, shake it sternly, remind it of our agreement, then let it go. She’ll usually tell her sisters to leave the crazy lady alone.
Here’s a favorite old time recipe from Midcoast Maine - It' good!

Blackfly Stew

1 onion
1 celery stalk
1 handful of green beans
1 carrot
1 handful of mushrooms
1 or 2 garlic cloves
Slice all and sauté in a heavy saucepan with a little butter or olive oil, adding each in order and stirring gently before adding the next ingredient.
Stir in a lb of thawed frozen Maine shrimp and pour in a quart of chicken broth with left over chicken. Cover and simmer an hour or so. Add more water if necessary.
Next - here’s the Blackfly part - go out in the garden and gather a handful or two of snips of fresh chives, garlic leaves, mustard and dandelion greens. Then chop them and add along with a spoonful of fresh minced Ginger to the simmering soup and any clinging Blackflies you may have accumulated. These are highly nutritious and delicious! In the old days, fisherman’s wives would knit small nets to wave over their heads in the garden to collect the juiciest bugs. Our modern day palettes are unable to appreciate the tenderness of the flavor now though; so many people (including me) omit this step. Stir in a couple of cups of cooked brown rice, add salt and pepper to taste and a few spoonfuls of soy sauce. Serve steaming hot with a salad of greens sprinkled with chives and heartsease (Johnny Jump Ups) flowers. Bake up some Biscuits too.
(Please note - the author assumes you know dandelion greens from poison hemlock and accepts no responsibility for any and all adverse reactions to ingestion of any wild plants or insects.)
Enjoy!

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