Spring is Here!

Well, spring is here . . . the garden is in full bloom! Are you enjoying all of the colors of the different varieties of flowers?

In some parts of the country, folks are definitely not enjoying spring-like weather. In fact, it was 25 degrees below normal today in New York!

Of course, spring means cleaning and we have been doing a lot of that here in the garden . . . pulling weeds, tidying up. Got the benches all cleaned up and ready for you to sit down for a few moments, relax, enjoy a cool beverage, and visit the many blogs we will be spotlighting here in the coming days as spring stretches into the long, lazy days of summer.

In the meantime, we’ve found some wonderful posts about spring on other blogs that we’d like to share with you:

1. Roundrock Journal, “about a little bit of forest on the edge of the Missouri Ozarks,” heralded the arrival of spring with some stunningly beautiful photos of white trout-lilies blooming earlier than expected. Check them out, along with the many other photos of the natural vegetation and critters found there.

2. Are you a spring chicken? You can see photos of some at Rurality if you scroll down the main page to the March 28, 2007 entry (there are no permalinks). The proprietor is a self-proclaimed “refugee from the corporate world since 1996, [and] proprietor of a handmade soap company called Natural Impulse.” She has an adorable dog named Jasmine, described as the “fearless protector of the homestead from coyotes, bobcats, deer, herons, airplanes, butterflies and fuzzy little bunnies.” Her interests include birdwatching, wildflowers, nature, gardening, folk and modern art.

3. From the banks of the Raqeutte River in northern New York, Joseph Duemer expounds about the Spring Chores he must complete, including repairs to the law because “[o]ver the winter the chipmunks created an elaborate system of tunnels just beneath the surface of the snow, leading to & from the base of the bird feeder.” Those are some industrious chipmunks! Good luck with the renovations, Joseph.

4. The Domesticator was singing “Happy Days Are Here Again” back on March 7, 2007, when it was “[s]eventy degrees, sunny, not a cloud in the sky. The daffodils are poking their yellow, bell shaped flowers up through the earth, and many of the trees are showing off their gorgeous pink and white blooms. I just love this time of year. Love. It.” By April 5, 2007, she wasn’t feeling as perky after

a week at Walt Disney World. During Spring Break. With three young kids. In the oppressive heat. Oppressive. 90+ degrees in the shade without a breeze.I will say this: never again. Never. I will never go to Disney during a school break. If I ever entertain the possibility of this type of trip again, feel free to slap me silly. It sounded like a good idea at the time. My husband just happened to be invited to speak at a conference at Disney last week. What a perfect opportunity! The kids were out of school. Hey, we’ll just throw them in the car and drive 8 hours to sunny Florida and spend six fun-filled family days in America’s favorite family destination…..wwrrrrroooonnngggg!!!

She’s ready for what her blog title promises now — Stolen Moments! She does admit to exaggeration, although losing her three-year-old daughter in downtown Disney had to be terror-inducing. Luckily, she found her in the arms of a police officer and it was all worth it “to see my two daughter’s eyes light up when they saw ‘Ariel’ in person. Or my seven year old coming off ‘The Tower of Terror’ saying, ‘That was awwweeesssoooommmmeeee!’ Or my five year old happily riding ‘Space Mountain’ comforting me . . . ‘it’s Ok mommy. Don’t be afraid. You’ll love it!’ We think the Domesticator really did have a great time and will be going back. After all, you know what they say: Never say never, Ms. Domesticator!

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