Observations - April 13th
Spring has well and truly arrived. We've been having a steady run of days in the 70s, even into the 80s, and the air has been sunny and soft and warm.
Every single plant seems to be bursting out: the maples and other trees are shooting out leaves, several fruit trees are covered in blossoms, there are bulbs sprouting in practically every yard, and our whole neighborhood is brilliant with dandelions and little purple flowers. What's particularly amazing is how fast this is occurring; I swear that at the start of the week there were little or no blooms, and then -- boom! -- there were flowers everywhere. (Before long, it will be time to resume mowing.)
The plants I'm growing are likewise taking off. For a long time there was nothing but still seeds and feeble little sprouts -- and now I'm hurriedly stuffing seedlings into larger peat pots and moving them outdoors before they get too leggy. I bought a carload of top soil and potting soil this morning, and anticipate a great planting frenzy over the weekend, if the weather continues to permit.
The birds are still lively, and they seem to be moving from courtship mode into nesting mode. When I was at the hardware store, there was a grackle hopping along, querelously peeping with a beak full of grass - which was simultaneously adorable, charming, and hilarious. The warm weather is also waking up the insects from their winter dormancy; ants have resumed their forays into the kitchen (sigh) and I've had to shoo several yellowjackets away from my car. (I do NOT want to think about the possibility of their setting up a nest in my car!)
Bare and sandalled feet are making regular appearances on campus (I'm wearing flip-flops at this moment myself) as are shorts, t-shirts, tank tops, and skirts.
It's a good time to be outside, enjoying the soft warm air and the smell of growing things.
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