Monday, March 8, 2010

First Walk of Spring

Well, technically it's not spring yet.  Not for another 12 days, but it's sunny and warmer than it has been in quite a while.  We actually hit 65 degrees today, folks.  Not a record by any stretch of the imagination.  By this time of year we've usually had a day or two that pushes the 80-degree mark.  Sometimes it pushes right past like birds returning from their winter retreat.

Today wasn't like that, but pleasant just the same.  The birds were singing, lots of birds, all different kinds, everywhere.  It was like a feathered chorus celebrating the birth of a new season.  I noticed as I walked the smell of Spring was in the air.  Funny, though there are no visible signs.  There are no daffodils or tree blossoms, no forsythia which is usually at least peeking out, if not in full bloom.  The maples aren't even showing any color.  I'd say we are definitely behind in getting our Spring on.  Or maybe it just seems so since we've had such a long and consistently cold winter.  I can't remember one like this in at least a decade.

The first crocus!                         
As I walked, I was alone with my thoughts.  I was thinking how nice it was to get out again, that maybe I can walk away a few pounds, and at the same time planning my dinner and taking mental notes for his post.  

I could see that some things have changed, and folks are finally getting out in their yards again.  Someone had cut down a bunch of bamboo, and it was piled out by the street to be hauled away.  Bamboo is an interesting tree (actually from the grass family).  It grows and spreads wickedly fast to form dense forests you can't begin to see through.  When the wind blows through the bamboo it is like an eerily strange instrument playing in the distance.

The next casualty was the passing of a grand old weeping willow.  It's now no more than a stump and branches cast aside awaiting pickup by the branch guy, much like the bamboo.  Sad.  That tree held court on the corner for many years, greeting all passers by with a gentle wave of her drooping limbs.

Still, Spring is in the air, and we are all ready to welcome her with open arms.

4 comments:

  1. Hi Linda,

    Like you, I thought Spring was upon us. Then today we awoke to a skiff of snow on the ground. We live in the high desert so I need to remind myself it's only March. We can see snow and/or frost until mid-May. But, hopefully not this year. I am SO ready for warmer temps.

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  2. We had four significant snows this year and another dusting. I think we're done now, but you never know. We haven't had any record-breaking temps this winter, but none of the reprieves we're used to either. No January thaw with a few days in the 70s. That makes us all the more ready for Spring.

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  3. Linda,

    I like the picture of the Crocus amidst the new greenery beginning to pop out.

    I live in N. Florida and we are just now getting warm weather. This week we expect to have most of the days reach the 70-78-degree range. It has been a surprisingly cold winter.

    We also have lots of bamboo and I agree with the sound it makes. Personally, I like bamboo, but it is a plant that takes over and so, sadly it does get removed.

    I read the post about your cat having diabetes. My older dog has borderline diabetes and has to be on special food. I also liked the cat pictures as I have a cat, as well:~)

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  4. Hi Sara,

    I just love Florida, although I've never been to your area. I've spent time in St. Petersburg along the beaches and love it there. It was another gorgeous day here. I think we hit 69.

    We got lucky with our cat. Not every cat's diabetes reverses.

    Thanks for coming to visit, and I'm glad you liked super hero bird. When we had an outside cat, the birds, particularly catbirds and mockingbirds would dive at him.

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