May flowers bring good neighbors

This was the first May Day that refused to slip by unnoticed by us. Inspired, as we so often are, by Minnesota Mom, we made a handful of May baskets and deposited them on our neighbors doors.
Keep in mind that is it more our custom (when I say our, I mean my) to procrastinate and look back with regret after the fact at the missed opportunity. So this was, genuinely, a coup.
We don't know our neighbors well. Although we have been here for over 2 years in our "temporary" duplex, for the most part we haven't taken many opportunities to extend ourselves. Many neighbors have come and gone, as is the case in most rental areas. Our little cul-de-sac is entirely duplexes, largely owned by landlords, though a few are owned by tenant landlords. They live in one half while the other half is rented out.
Such is the case with our nearest neighbor. They have been here, if I remember correctly, as long as we have. But things have not been as quiet and simple as one might desire. In fact, there were a few dramatic moments. Like the one where I flew breathlessly down the steps and begged the gentleman to please, please, please not allow his dear pets to use our yard in the process of their "morning duty." He was taken aback, partly I am sure by my appearance, the hour, and my begging.
So imagine my surprise when the doorbell rang a few days into the month of May early in the day. I was still in robe, so I let eldest son answer. It was the neighbor. She had a pot of clever little "roses" to give to us, thanking us for the May basket. Each was a silk flower attached to a pen, pushed into several inches of pinto beans.
I was humbled. Here it took us so long to do a little something kind and how much it would have saved us! And the very next weekend, Mr. Neighbor cleaned and raked our back yard while we were away! Lesson learned (I hope!) as we prepare to have new neighbors.