Even though it certainly doesn’t feel like the official beginning of summer, today is May Day! In honor of the pagan half-solstice and commemorating the birth of the 8 hour work day, we’ll be knocking off early and wreathing our brows with May crowns of newly-arrived bodega peonies and market lilacs (both spotted this week!).

Glorious old May Day images from the Ames, Iowa Hstorical Society.