Illustration by Anne Lambelet
1. Try out a new neighborhood spot
Spring usually brings many restaurant openings, and two to try are The Lab in Fishtown and Second District Brewing in Newbold.
2. Weed grass on walkways or sidewalks
The grass has been growing since February, which means it won’t be long at all before it goes to seed and multiplies.
3. Finish planting the garden
It’s May! You can finally plant your cucumbers, melons, beans, okra, corn, squash and sweet potatoes. And don’t forget those long-to-fruit peppers!
4. Explore Spring Festivals
The South Street Spring Festival is May 6 this year, and on May 7 you check out the Chestnut Hill Home and Garden Festival. You’ll find Philly’s zaniest parade at the Kensington Kinetic Sculpture Derby and Arts Festival on May 20. That’s also the date of the Rittenhouse Row Spring Festival, and day one of the two-day 9th Street Italian Market Festival.
5. Take a walk by the river
The Bartram’s Mile portion of the Schuylkill River Trail, from Grays Ferry to 56th Street, is now open. If you’re near the Delaware River, don’t forget to picnic at Pier 68.
6. Go to a plant sale
If you missed April’s plant sales, don’t worry. You still have time to get to Morris Arboretum’s plant sale May 13, the Brandywine River Museum of Art’s plant sale May 13 and 14, and the Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education’s second plant sale on June 24.
7. Keep resisting
It’s tough to keep going when it seems like every day brings a new issue to confront, but resist we must. The Philadelphia Office of Sustainability released a great guide of resources and actions you can take to protest cuts to the EPA.
8. Get your screens in
If you haven’t already done it, put in your screens. It will keep your home cool at night and deter you from turning on the AC.
9. Clean up the yard
Spring is the best time to prune many trees and shrubs, including roses, and you’ll also want to check out the yard or patio for places mosquitoes can breed.
10. Unleash the tomato starts
It’s the one we’ve all been waiting for: Time to plant the tomatoes. The chance of frost is over, and many people use Mother’s Day (this year on May 14) as their go-to date for knowing when to get those fragrant green tomato starts into the ground.
