Spring is here. Abundantly. Everywhere we have flowering trees in bloom, tulips that are reaching upward toward the sunlight, and leaves that have burst forth. But one of my favorite blooms (and scents) of spring are the lilacs. We are fortunate to have them throughout the Twin Cities; not only do they grace yards and alleys, but they are also planted along the highways, streets, and county roads. On a warm and sunny day it’s a delight to drive along a road edged with lilacs and have their wonderful light scent float into the car. We have both the purple and white lilacs in our yard. Because of their delicateness and short life-span once they’ve been cut, I find I cherish them even more. Soon the blooms will be gone and the bushes covered with full leaves. But for now I will revel in their beauty and smell of everything spring!
spring
Wind, weather, and a road trip
I hit the road this past weekend for a quick trip to the Kansas City area. It was a time for catching up with family and celebrating my niece’s high school graduation. We were even able to fit in an evening of pond fishing – the winds were calm, the air was warm, the sunset over the farmland was beautiful, and even the fishing was successful. I headed back home to Minnesota yesterday, leaving Kansas City in the morning after an early thunder-storm had passed. The sun was out and the temperature was rising, as was the humidity. I was watching dark and threatening clouds to the north, hoping they would move east before I got to that area. As I arrived in northern Iowa, the weather intensified to the north and east with large clouds blossoming on the horizon right along the front line. The radio station kept interrupting with severe weather and tornado warnings to the east and the south. When the interstate merged to one-lane and the cars started to back up, I took the first exit. This area of northern Iowa is filled with wind turbine farms, all working to harness the power of the winds that blow across these plains. Their height and power seemed to compliment the weather that was building in the area. My timing was perfect as I was west of this storm system, and my time photographing allowed me to miss the heavy downpours that were to the north. I managed to arrive home in between the storms, but with an appreciation of the power (and randomness) of Mother Nature.
Freesias, and the elusiveness of spring
Spring has been more than elusive this year for us in Minnesota. Our winter has lingered way longer than anyone wants, even threatening the long-awaited fishing opener next week. When we should have 60 degree temps, open water, and blooming flowers we have instead endured two snowfalls in the past week alone, temps in the 30s and 40s, lakes still covered in ice, and nothing blooming. But there is one place that is a haven of spring at this time of year – the McNeely Conservatory in Como Park. This has been my refuge and antidote for our cold and gray continuing winter. I found tulips and hyacinths, calla lilies and these lovely freesias. The perfect dose of colors, smells, and the promise of spring. Yet to come.
Spring, at last
Our spring has been delayed. Repeatedly. Yet just when we’d survived two snowfalls in the past week, the temperature surged above 60 degrees for the first time since last November. And then it topped 70 degrees, creating a mass exodus of everyone to the outdoors. The switch had been flipped and it gave us the sunshine and warmth we were all craving. I spent yesterday working in the yard and flower beds, removing the covering of marsh grass we had laid down last fall. And much to my surprise I found tulips; here they stood as a testament to surviving our cold and long winter, reaching up about two inches through the recently thawed topsoil. The emerging stalks were multi-colored with shades of green, brown, and even a deep purple. How simple and yet how resilient, and so representative of spring.
Bonsai garden opening
This weekend was the grand opening of the Ordway Gardens at Como Park. The new addition to the Marjorie McNeely Conservatory allows for the viewing of one of North America’s top ten public collections of bonsai. After a seven-inch snowfall on Thursday into Friday, the opening took on a non-springlike look. How unusual to see a Ponderosa Pine bonsai with snow at its base! It seemed a true testament to the hardiness and the beauty of bonsai. And with the conservatory dome reflecting in the glass panel behind the tree it was a perfect representation of the beauty and the specialness of the conservatory and the new gardens.
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