Spring?

Spring…it needs to get its act together.

I will admit we had Spring-like weather here in central Kentucky all Winter long, but it isn’t the same. We had little snow, few cold days that only came in short bursts and many weeks of unseasonable temperatures, but the trees were bare. And this Winter seemed particularly bleak, despite the warm temps.
Any reader knows that I like Autumn the best; I love the crisp air and the season’s wildflowers, plus Chrysanthemums and Marigolds, but most of all, I love the colorful leaves. Unfortunately, there is a reason why that season is also called Fall; I truly wish the colors would last a little longer, but alas, they don’t. The drive down the otherwise prettiest highway I have ever seen, The Bluegrass Parkway, is for the most part lined with trees, as is the small state highway I travel on to get anywhere from my house. You can see the Knobs that rise nearby and, except for November-April, they are covered with green or colorfully leafed branches. I often wonder how many leave there are in the world, just contemplating the number I can see from these roads.
The happiest thing I can recall about Spring is when I see the bear trees start to turn green. Every year there is one day, long before discernable leaves appear, that suddenly I realize the trees are becoming green, and it is a welcome relief. I catch myself letting out an audible sigh and I find myself smiling.
My crocus bloomed early and now the daffodils and jonquils have risen their little happy blossoms in greeting outside my doors, but ever since the false promise of Groundhog’s Day, it has been cold and mostly, wet. It has rained torrentially a couple of times and the snow we have gotten hasn’t been enough to make things pretty or for the kids to play in. Indeed, we have had more snow than we did all Winter and even now, even though the days have gotten longer, we have high highs 30 degrees below normal, with lows in the 20’s, wind-chills in the teens, for heaven’s sake. By Easter we usually see the wild Dogwood and Redbud trees in bloom along the roads, (which have purple flowers, by the way…who named them?), and in mild enough years, Magnolias also bloom in time for Easter bonnets and baskets, but there is no chance of that happening this year. I also have two grandkids in Spring Soccer and it has been way too cold for them to practice without long sleeved shirts and sweaters under their jerseys, pants on their legs, gloves on their hands, toboggans on their heads…and Grandma sitting most of it out in the car when she is on chauffer duty. (I won’t be able to get away with that comes the first game on Saturday!)

Spring…it needs to get its act together.

Go ahead, make me jealous…how is Spring coming along in your neck of the woods?

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