Welcome as the Flowers in May
In Southern and Appalachian speech, "You’re as welcome as the flowers in May" is a warm compliment meaning someone’s arrival is a delight-truly welcome and timely, like spring blossoms after a long winter.
#SouthernSayings #Appalachia #PeopleandRelationships #Southern
synonyms: you’re mighty welcome, glad to see you, welcome indeed
Hillbilly Dude Says...
I've read this one, but not been told, 'You’re as welcome as the flowers in May.' That may say something more about me than the sayin' itself. Hillbilly Dude Says...
I've read this one, but not been told, 'You’re as welcome as the flowers in May.' That may say something more about me than the sayin' itself. Pronunciation
[WEL-kum az thuh FLOW-ers in MAY]
/ˈwɛl.kəm æz ðə ˈflaʊ.ərz ɪn meɪ/
/ˈwɛl.kəm æz ðə ˈflaʊ.ərz ɪn meɪ/
Meaning & Usage
- Warm, heartfelt welcome (compliment, simile)
Clara:
Hope we’re not botherin’ you.
Hope we’re not botherin’ you.
Elmer:
Botherin’? You’re as welcome as the flowers in May.
Botherin’? You’re as welcome as the flowers in May.variations: welcome as May flowers, welcome as the May flowers
Origin and Etymology
Documented in Southern and Appalachian print by the late 19th and early 20th centuries (newspapers, sermons, letters), this poetic simile draws on agrarian life-May flowers marking the welcome turn of spring. It survives in regional song, verse, and everyday courtesy talk.
Usage Notes
- Stylistically old-timey and polite; still used earnestly by older speakers, sometimes playfully by younger ones.
- Often shortened to welcome as May flowers.
- Pairs well with other Southern compliments like pretty as a picture and seasonal imagery common in mountain speech.
Kin Topics
Related Pages
How to Cite This Page
- APA (7th edition)The Hillbilly Dude. (2025, October 3). Welcome as the Flowers in May. HillbillySlang.com. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/welcome-as-the-flowers-in-may
- MLA (9th edition)"The Hillbilly Dude." "Welcome as the Flowers in May." HillbillySlang.com, 3 Oct. 2025, https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/welcome-as-the-flowers-in-may.
- Chicago (17th edition)The Hillbilly Dude. "Welcome as the Flowers in May." HillbillySlang.com. October 3, 2025. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/welcome-as-the-flowers-in-may.
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Created by The Hillbilly Dude, this site is a growing field guide to culture, speech, memory, and meaning - rooted in Appalachia but reaching across the world. Every slang word, saying, accent and story is gathered from first-hand experience and trusted sources. The goal: preserve authentic voices and share them with writers, learners, and culture lovers everywhere - with a little humor thrown in here and there. Read more...