Tuesday, March 31, 2020

Signs of Spring

We're just staying at home, so it's hard to get out and document the signs of spring,  But I see a lot right here at home and I know more is happening out in the countryside, even though most of the human world has shut down here.

It may not mean much to those of you further south, but the snow disappearing and the grass re-appearing is by FAR the biggest sign of spring here.  If you don't live with it you probably don't realize the ramifications, but the world outside my window has changed completely, and I'm ready to watch a sequence of changes until the leaves are fully out and the warmer weather is here.  Snowblowers get put away and soon lawnmowers will come out, winter tires are removed and summer tires get installed, winter coats, hats, mitts and boots go away and you forget all that stuff except for a summer hat and light jacket.

And if you're in a wheelchair, suddenly the world outside has opened up to you again.  You can get outside and go places without your tires coming in wet and coated with grit.  I've said before that you can't imagine what a difference this means for me.

Can you see the green shoots rising?  Spring is when all kinds of flowers grow and bloom again, like these Tulips and Hyacinths just poking out of the ground.  Everyone notices this and rejoices, but gardeners go a little mad and start frequenting the nurseries (what are we going to do this year?) looking for new plants.  Here it will mean a whole raft of outdoor work getting the garden ready and watching things grow.

Just after sharing the returning birds with you yesterday, this fellow landed right outside the window to say hello!

Jamie, one of my caregivers spotted this Great Blue Heron deep in the swamp and sent me this picture.  I like the way it almost disappears among the water and dark tree trunks.  We haven't seen one ourselves yet, but it won't be long.  Thanx Jamie!

The wildlife wakes up too, and sometimes groggily stumbles about the first few days.  This raccoon walked all the way across the golf course yesterday, disappearing behind our shed.  Sadly many raccoons, skunks and other mammals are killed on the roads at this time of year, unaware of the hazard vehicles represent.  And soon it will be turtle slaughter season too (maybe I'm being a bit cynical there).  

One thing I realize I'm leaving out are the sound of spring.  Frogs will be calling from the wetlands, and birds calling everywhere.  Stick your head out the door early in the morning and it's just a chorus of voices.  Unfortunately I'm not up early enough to hear the best part of this.  But spring is definitely here.



15 comments:

  1. I can well imagine how you must look forward to Spring after your long, snowy winters. There's a lot less traffic on our roads now which is good news for the animals that usually become victims of roadkill, but bad news for those species that feed on roadkill. Our school cleaner used to hate the snow - all the children wanted to go outside in their wheelchairs, then got cold and came back in to warm up, just as she'd got it all cleaned up out they would go again! She wasn't to joyous about all the glitter that got scattered about when they made Christmas cards either.

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  2. I'm so glad that you now can get out and about. If I couldn't go for a walk now and then, I don't know what I would do. At least there is much less traffic, so hopefully fewer dead wildlife.

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  3. So pleased you can now get out and about …
    Love the bird in your 4th photograph :)

    All the best Jan

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  4. I watch the Grape Hyacinth shoots popping up in the garden, the last of the summer zinnias, some seeds there to be saved, and your deck with planter boxes? I wish we had rushed to the local hardware and garden shop to get winter vege seedlings and any other plants before they closed for 4 weeks at least.I wonder what happened to all the plants and shrubs there. Lovely to see your grass appear, and no snow on the roads and streets will make going out so much easier.Hugh has been doing a 20 minute trip on his mobility scooter and tells me the streets are so rough.He takes a different route each day, and one day went past the home we lived in before moving here. A few minutes later I had a phone call from our previous neighbour " I just saw a head going past our front hedge, and realised who it was.Are you all OK?" He cannot call in, and as he just squeaks into the under 70, can do their own groceries. His birthday is a week before mine, no celebration for him this year either. How is the heron? Hope he is above snow level now.

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  5. And we all rejoice at those signs of spring. Here in central Texas probably 95% of trees now have leaves on them. It is sort of hard to be sure, though, as we are not encouraged to leave our homes except for necessities. As a former gardener whose life line is nature, I would think see the bluebonnets in bloom should be considered essential! I look forward to your photos of those bulbs in bloom.

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  6. I love to listen to the sounds of early morning and do every morning.
    Glad that you will be able to get out now that the weather is cooperating.
    With less cars on the road maybe there won't be so many animals getting hit!!

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  7. I used to live in Maine (USA) and always welcomed spring. Ice out was always a big day! And of course, the snow melting, frogs calling, etc. Here in VA, we are a month into spring this year. It started really early!

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  8. Our daffodils have burst into bloom this week, yours will soon join them.

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  9. Spring will soon be keeping you entertained with all its beauty.
    Be Safe and Enjoy the show.

    It's about time

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  10. I do know how much spring can mean...and I am glad for you that it is on its way!

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  11. I really like your raised beds. Now that it is spring you can think about getting them going. - Margy

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  12. Glad you can get out and about again and enjoy the spring like weather! :)

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  13. It must be wonderful to see signs of Spring after a white winter. We are Autumn down here so leaves are falling and winter just around the corner. Winter is just cold and no snow here. Enjoy your Spring and I look forward to seeing your flowers and animals.

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  14. Such great photos to see. I am glad you can get outside.

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  15. I've been seeing raccoons at night too.

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