I was asked, recently, if we're getting into spring, here. The reality is, that if all is normal, weatherwise, we're about halfway through our winter. If--and the weather has been especially wonky, this year---if, all is back to normal in the weather department, Spring won't arrive in these parts until mid-to late April...and not truly here until mid-May. We've been known to have some serious blizzards in mid-March--up to a foot of snow or more, so Spring? Long way off yet, sadly...tho' there have been years when it does come early, in late March--there have also been years, when it barely comes at all--we have Winter (with snowfall in early May)...two or three weeks of Spring---then jump right into Summer.
but I have my memories of Spring--especially when I had my tiny little garden, slongside the house--very much the same size as the one in the photo.
Our soil, due to the fact that we were a bit under half a mile from the Hudson River, was a mixture of clay and rich earth--you could grow just about anything, without much help from fertilizers and such.
I used to plant green beeans, tomatoes and onions. Sometimes Boston lettuce. Gave up on the corn--there wasn't quite enough sun where the garden was, to encourage corn--and if I tried to put my garden closer to the sun, in the backyard--I found it was too close to the woods, and the wild critters would eat the stuff faster than it could pop up out of the ground.
I loved the Spring--especially when I first turned the earth, after a long cold winter.
I'd sit out there, alongside my newly dug garden, enjoying the setting sunset, an orange glow lighting up the pine grove out back.
The warm zephyr breezes of spring, would tickle my hair, as I sat on the newly grown grass--so new, it virtually glowed emerald green--and admired my garden.
I'd pick up some earth in my fingers, feel the soothing coolness, smell the rich soil--a sweet-sour smell. Dark Chocolate with a tinge of lemonade. Silky smooth, comforting.
In the trees, a robin would cease it's cheery song, and preparing for night, would begin to slowly and contentedly softly chirp.
A deep sense of peace would come over me. I'd feel the caress of the wind against my cheek, the serenity of the robin's chirping, the promise of the newly turned soil. And a broad sense of total gratification--that just for that one moment--all was truly right with the world.
A GROVE OF EASTERN WHITE PINE--SIMILAR TO THE SMALL GROVE BEHIND OUR BACKYARD--AT SUNSET
MrFlighty
Here in London it's been mild and wet recently so it appears that Spring is with us. However I've seen snow and ice in mid April, albeit a long time ago.
I love gardens and gardening but don't have one, which is one of my few main regrets in life at present.
This is a lovely entry which summons up such vivid images, and indeed some fond memories. Thanks.