霜なくて曇る八十八夜かな　（正岡子規）

という歌があるように立春から八十八日目を迎える5月2日頃は天候もだいぶ安定し、夏の準備を始める良い時期とされています。有名なのはやはり、この歌でしょう。

　 夏も近づく八十八夜
　　野にも山にも若葉が茂る
　　あれに見えるは茶摘みじゃないか
　　茜襷に菅の笠

　　　　　*　*　*

Eight eight days are counted from the day called "Risshun", what is said to be the beginning day of Spring in Japan. It is relatively good season to practice agricultural working at this time of the year since there will be neither frost nor untimely frost.

The song introduced above is the song of "Cha-tsumi" (tea picking), since it is a good season to start picking the new sprouts of tea farm.