ETERNAL SPRING

In response to the wrtiers' prompt: Post a photo journal of what Spring is looking like in your neck of the woods!  on Mama's Losin' It blog.

(Update: 05/08/2012  Oops! I forgot to put my link on Mama Kat's blog.  But, no matter, I wanted to post these photos anyway,)

Spring is my favorite season.  I'm not fond of either hot or cold weather ---we have much of both in my area ----so that leaves Spring or Fall for my favorite weather.  I am happiest when I can wear a long-sleeved T-shirt or a sweatshirt without a jacket.

Tulips and daffodils from our garden.

Although Fall can be exceptionally beautiful, it is the time of year when things are hybernating, dying and decaying. Days are getting shorter.

I much prefer Spring, when nature seems to come alive again and the days lengthen day by day.  I know Spring is just around the corner when daffodils and tulips start to poke through the ground. I love seeing the birds return, small buds, then blossoms, and finally green foliage on the trees.

I know we can put away the snow shovels, winter coats, boots and gloves, at least for a while.

That being said, the winter of 2011-2012 was a very mild one here.  Whereas we usually have weeks of high temperatures in the teens or low 20s and sometimes lows hovering just above or below zero, this past winter we had many weeks when temperatures were 20-30 degrees above normal. In January and February ---traditionally our coldest months ---there were days when we could take walks without coats.  Spring flowers were breaking through the soil in February instead of late March or early April. This year, most of March felt more like late April or May.  We had summer temperatures of over 80 degrees on several days.

We usually spend many winter days shoveling snow.  This year, there was almost no snow at all. I used a snow pusher to move an inch or two only 3 times.  Most of the time, there was just a trace or perhaps 1/4 inch, that either melted or blew away on its own.

I've been playing around with still-life photography.
My spring flowers made perfect models.

But the problem with early blooms is that after the trees and flowers had blossomed early this year, we had frost one night and the blossoms were ruined.  This does not bode well for a good harvest on fruit trees.

Yet, if I could live in eternal Spring, I would be very happy indeed.

These photos were taken in my neighborhood or at local parks.

Our Magnolia tree before the frost.

The Magnolia tree bloomed much earlier than normal, so one would expect a night of frost to ruin its blossoms, but the frost has gotten to it every year we have lived here (25 yrs.)  It seems that this tree was a poor choice for our climate, but it was here when we purchased our property.