Spring has sprung, both kinds in fact. Meteorological spring has been underway for over three weeks. This is the spring we learned about in kindergarten that begins on March 1 and continues through the end of May. Researchers who study climate and seasonal phenomena like this type of spring because it always begins and ends on the same day, simplifying year-to-year statistical comparisons.
Astrological spring began on March 20, at 5:01 AM to be precise. This type of spring starts when the earth reaches the point in its orbit when it is tilted neither toward nor away from the sun. The sun passes over the celestial equator and days in the Northern Hemisphere become longer than nights. Astronomers prefer this spring for obvious reasons.
The past winter was either the worst in years or the best, depending on your perspective. I lean toward best since I'm a fan of cold and snow, but even I got tired of the plodding sameness of each day. Now the accelerando that is spring has begun, with each day bringing something new. It's a wonderful time to simply wander around outside. I remember childhood Easter eggs hunts, but more exciting was the search for the first crocus and being the one to report on the night when spring peepers were first heard.
Exceptionally dry weather has made this a spring with no peepers. I heard peeps in the distance a few weeks ago, but it has been eerily quiet in our bend of the river. Wood frogs called briefly and eggs were discovered in one of the vernal pools, but it has since dried up.
Thought audibly lacking, the outdoors is a feast for the eyes right now, as long as you look closely. Buds are swelling and bursting all over. True to their name, the Lenten roses appeared a few weeks ago, cheering up the yard considerably. They are lovely at a distance and close up. If you get too close, however, the minute sexual bits can be slightly grotesque, as I learned when I attempted some macro photography this weekend.
I highly recommend looking closely at the buds, flowers, and insects you encounter outside, but be prepared for the repulsive and the unexpected. The first time I closely examined a butterfly I realized that without their magnificently colorful wings they would look like giant hairy mosquitoes. It's a good thing for monarchs that they are beautiful, or there would be little interest in their conservation. (The photo below is from a few years ago. It's too early for butterflies here.)
Of course, much of what is found outside right now is absolutely beautiful, if small. The big blasts of color won't come until April when tulips, creeping phlox, crabapples, and peach trees begin blooming. Spending the time to look closely and find the inconspicuous isn't a bad thing. The more we observe and are amazed by the natural world, especially the tiny and often overlooked parts, the more we hesitate before destroying it.
Though the more ostentatious floral and foliage displays are still a few weeks away, there are a few large-scale colorful scenes to be found. The serpentine of the river proclaims that spring is here. Broom sedge glows in the sun. Paddock C looks like Ireland. As spring progresses I'll be sharing more of its development — as inspiration for similar horticultural endeavors, and as respite from reading about politics.
Photo key (all photos are my own)
Quince flower buds
Peach flower buds
Dogwood flower bud
Lenten rose
Lenten rose
Lenten rose
Eastern tiger swallowtail
Red maple flower
View of river and neighbor’s barn
View of the Savanna
Riverbottom pasture
spring has sprung but we have sheets of ice in VT! i was hoping to get my hands in the dirt... i have to wait for the snow to melt.... oh well. love the photos (for whats to come)!
I guess I should go outside....