We've Been Sprung

Maybe my constant complaints about the weather have brought the results I've been wanting. And maybe Mother Nature is busy planning another blitz attack on us all after this week of warmth has sufficiently softened us up enough that it will be extra cruel when she hits us again with some misplaced winter. She does so enjoy dashing our hopes.

We aren't the only beings that are now filled with dreams of summer. The robins have returned in force. There are flashes of red all through the yard. Dennis has noted a meadowlark in the vicinity. The crows have already come through. The geese went back and forth several times, but I think they're back to where they want to spend the summer. Gophers are numerous, dashing here and there, risking life and limb on the highway, and then standing tall alongside the roads as they soak up the sun. They do make good targets for those so inclined. (They are very destructive rodents, after all, a bane on the existence of farmers and ranchers.)

The snow is barely off the ground in most places up here. I do still have some rapidly shrinking snowdrifts around the place. In the flowerbeds that bared off in just the past two days, new life is pushing up out of the ground. My lone surviving daffodil bulb has six-to-eight inches of green leaf blades showing through the deep leaf coverage. It's in a protected corner just to the west of our front deck, where the winds swirl the dead leaves in and then just leaves them there to rot. I had to uncover that plant.

Another flowerbed just off that same front deck, but to the east side, still shows wet where there was snow just yesterday. The lilies-of-the-valley are poking up new growth - or that growth might be from the sunny twinkles that the lilies are crowding out. I've uncovered where my chives grow in that bed and found lots of green, as well as a mint plant. I should be able to enjoy cuttings of both in a couple weeks upon my return from Florida.

In other flowerbeds, day lilies are showing lots of new growth. A poppy plant, an iris, and chrysanthemums are also thrusting their way up from the earth. On the east side of the house the grape hyacinths are growing vigorously. The garden space is fully clear of snow for the third time, albeit much too wet to even think about tilling.

If I was not heading off to Florida for two weeks to assist our middle daughter with her family as she undergoes and recovers from surgery, I'd be busy clearing all those flowerbeds. I'd be clearing the lawn of the downed tree branches I didn't get to before the last couple significant snowfalls. I'd be bringing in and cleaning all the bird feeders. I'm glad I went ahead and cleaned out all the nesting boxes last fall. They're ready for new occupants.

I can honestly (for once!) say I'm not procrastinating spring's work this year! But I'm really going to be playing a lot of catchup going into next month. Ah, well, such is life.