One truth learned by living in a temperate climate for 43 years is that the seasons will, eventually, change. As much and as badly as we don’t want summer to end, or that we think the snow will never melt, inevitably, one season gives way to the next.
Yesterday it hit 60 here, and it was an absolutely gorgeous day in every way. The sun was shining, people were out running, walking, and biking in droves – I saw a stunning array of winter white legs, let me tell you! Neighborhoods were teeming with busy folk cleaning up their yards and gardens, waving to passersby, and generally savoring being outdoors again sans either down jacket or snow shovel.
We’ve got some tulip shoots with about 6 inches of leaf, Siberian irises looking somewhat hopeful about resuming life after the long rest, and, as featured above, a random crocus – I only have a couple, and I never know from year to year if I’ll see a flower, because often the buds are eaten by varmints before I know one has formed.
This year, either the varmints are otherwise occupied or the forces that be understand that those of us who endured this Wisconsin winter with its record snowfall are deserving of a little spring miracle.
My theory is that with the late spring and the sudden warmth, the crocuses budded and bloomed so fast that the varmints haven’t quite found them yet!
When I look at the photographic evidence from Thursday evening
http://hitherandyarn.files.wordpress.com/2008/04/first-crocus.jpg
to Saturday afternoon
http://hitherandyarn.files.wordpress.com/2008/04/walking-sock-and-crocuses.jpg
– that’s the exact same yellow crocus there, which blows me away. (Now the crocus are doused in anti-varmint stuff, which should hopefully prevent them from being varmint hors d’oeuvres.)
Everything is popping up everywhere now that the huge snowdrifts are about gone. Does my soul good.
what I love is how people here are so darn happy when spring hits. Beaming dog walkers. Smiling walkers. Chatter in check out lines when another patron sees the tell-tale signs of intended grilling. And, my personal one from yesterday–an absolute mob at Baskin-Robbins with everyone apparently thinking “spring? Let’s go for ice cream.” I think it’s what it is supposed to be (but just isn’t) at Christmas time. They haven’t commercialized spring.
Yeah! I’m happy your spring is finally there! We’re about ready to head into summer in a week or so. After that is the season I refer to as Desiccation
HAHAHAH! What a wonderful whack of commenters! Seriously, I **almost** get as much pleasure reading the comments here as I do reading your posts.. ‘Desiccation Season’.. varmint hors d’oeuvres… and Beth, in some ways they have commercialized Spring, but I think it reads ‘Easter’… :^D
Lovely crocus!
Stacey’s right. Nothing quite like Africa hot in California.
I’m so glad spring is arriving in your part of the world, sweetie. It seems like it was a long winter for you.
ok–I am totally cracking up. Since we are Jewish, we don’t celebrate Easter. They commercialized spring without me even noticing!
Pretty, I forgot to plant my crocuses but saw a few at my old house today . And I have high hopes for my daffodils in a week or so.
The winter white legs are something aren’t they? As long as I don’t have to see men in tank tops I can enjoy spring.