Dear Reader,
Welcome to the no man’s land that is the front line between a winter that does not want to surrender and a spring that is determined to break through. Two weekends ago on the 13th I did some late winter camping in reasonably mild weather with a forecast that promised no precipitation on the 14th. I spent the day in the woods with my father, clearing some paths and just enjoying being outside. I noticed buds on a spicebush (pictured below) that were getting a little excited and were starting to swell. Things are waking up! I love seeing the first signs of spring that remind me life is flowing beneath the surface.
Sometime around midday we sat down on a log to eat some bread and cheese. That’s when I heard what sounded like someone was sprinkling sand onto us from up on high. I looked more closely: yes, sleet was falling and collecting on my clothes. As the afternoon progressed the sleet intensified, then got wetter, eventually turning into snow that did not stop through the two hour drive home. By the time we made it home there was a good inch of snow everywhere. Amazing how quickly things can change.
The snow was gone by Monday, and I spotted my first forsythia in bloom (below) at a client’s house. Another sign that winter is fading away! Supposedly there will be three more snows left after the forsythia blooms. I wish I knew if this forsythia had bloomed before or after the snow two days ago!
My week progressed with more of the same. The earliest of spring flowers were coming out. They are usually not very conspicuous, only revealing themselves to those who are looking for them. These early bloomers are more demure, not willing to make a big splash this early in the party. Things are still quiet, but the arrival of these first guests means things are going to get louder very soon.
Here is a red maple in full bloom a day later:
And one day later, on Wednesday, Cornelian-cherry dogwood, making its subtle statement…
And on Thursday I had to stop and admire this pussy willow collecting raindrops on its swelling flower buds:
All during this time I have noticed wildlife waking up as well. I saw a garter snake in my back field pretending I couldn’t see it. I walked around it not wanting to hurt its feelings. In the same area, some ants were slugglishly thinking about doing some spring cleaning; I could tell they still needed to finish stretching out a bit before they started to work. Birds are way ahead of them – I saw a wren picking through some straw for some nest building materials while her mate kept watch a few yards away. A pair of sparrows is nesting in one of my porch columns. Birds are singing away the silence of winter, and even the spring peepers did not stop their call through a low in the mid 20’s that weekend. I guess the plants and animals are just as tired of gray, cold weather as everyone else is.
As I reviewed these photos to share them with you I noticed the background in each one is gray, overcast skies. Given recent developments around the world and now in our own community I could not help but draw a parallel between these photos and what is happening in our world. The sky above seems gray, temperatures go up and down. News updates keep coming in. Today it’s rain, tomorrow it’s snow. We have to stay inside, looking out the window wondering if spring will really come. But I have been outside, and I’ve seen the buds swelling, the flowers emerging, the birds and animals getting on. I’ve had the true pleasure to be able to speak with several of you last week as we met in your lawns to discuss trees, plants, and other things. Yes, we had to keep our distance, but it’s amazing how there is no distance between a friendly smile and a word of encouragement shared between two people. Yes, it is amazing how quickly things can change. Yes, the sky overhead may seem gray, and we are tired of staying inside waiting for the world to change back into a more comfortable place. But I have seen the signs of life carrying on in your landscapes and in your hearts. Yes, for now we keep our distance, but a wave, a smile, a letter, a telephone call will serve to remind one another that this miracle we call life is far greater than we understand, and if we keep moving forward together, the gray skies will clear and we will see that the sun was always there behind the clouds.
“Sorrow may last for a night, but joy comes in the morning.” Winter would like to remain in the world and in our hearts, but life and light are so refreshingly and so reliably rebellious. May that spring morning come soon for all of us.
Your friendly neighborhood arborist,
José Fernández | Regional Manager, Russell Tree Experts
José became an ISA Certified Arborist® in 2004, and a Board-Certified Master Arborist® in 2015. Currently he is enrolled at The Ohio State University pursuing a Master’s Degree in Plant Health Management. José likes working around trees because he is still filled with wonder every time he walks in the woods. José has worked at Russell Tree Experts since 2012.