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Dear Friend,

I am delighted to bring you the big book of Southern Living this month. That's right, this is our largest issue of the year so far. I think it fulfills my goal of what I call the "three S's" that we build our editorial product around each month.

Of course, the first "S" is Southern. As you leaf through the pages of the magazine, I hope you see a good representation of our 17 states.

I especially like the way we address the second "S," Seasonal. Hydrangeas and hanging baskets in Gardens, Memphis in May and The Mast Farm Inn in Travel, decks and decorating in Homes, and parties and pasta in Foods.

The third "S" is Service. This is really the hallmark of all our sections, as we always want to help you enjoy living. In Travel, you can learn how to feel safe during your stay away from home by utilizing our staff's "Travel Tips" (page 54). Our Gardens section tells you how to share plants with a friend and increase the display in your own garden (page 78). In Homes, we offer a fast way to achieve a faux finish (page 128). "From our Kitchen" (page 196) in Foods features ways to take mayo to a gourmet level; these new flavors taste great with light mayonnaise as well.

But the special touch in our magazine each month is the voice of our individual editors. A couple of the best examples in this issue are two very different stories written by Valerie Fraser. Her piece on the garden of the legendary Miss Eudora Welty (I was always told it was Miss Eudora) is about a journey to the author's hometown of Jackson, Mississippi, and Valerie and her mother's personal visit to see Miss Eudora and her mother's garden. I love the reason why Valerie took her mother along: "I wanted to share the story of this garden with my mother because I had seen something familiar in the Welty women-so different yet so connected." (The story starts on page 110.) Now, flip to the back page and see the humorous side of her writing. Valerie's "Southern Journal" opening is priceless. She writes, "I recently heard an interesting little tidbit: The South consumes more Kool-Aid per capita than any other part of the country. I know why. Vacation Bible School."

Yes, Southern, Seasonal, and Service fill every issue of Southern Living, but it's the words of our writers and the pictures of our photographers that make this a special magazine for you. Have a glorious May.

Best regards,

John Alex Floyd, Jr., Editor