Our landscape has been white for so very long that a bright burst of yellow is a true signal of spring. I spent some time at the McNeely Conservatory where it is spring, under glass. Yellow and red tulips, ranunculus, crocus, and daffodils are wonderful (and needed) reminders of the season of spring. These yellow tulips were set off by the blue reflection of the sky in the water behind them. Soon enough we will have spring outside too, and not need to go inside to experience it.
spring
A sea of tulips
Spring is here and our weather warmed up quickly to hearken all the flowers into bloom. The garden beds are filled with daffodils and tulips, and the red bud trees have added their color too. It’s a beautiful time to wonder at the multitude of colors that now surround us.
And on Mother’s Day, a special thank you to mothers everywhere. Although my mother passed away four years ago, I still think of her everyday and appreciate all the lessons I learned from her. Take a moment and thank those mothers that are near and dear to you.
The end of a spring day
Spring arrived quickly in the past week. There were hints of green showing up in the trees and the grass. The ice moved off the lake and the open water was an invitation for geese, ducks, loons, eagles, and the people wanting to fish. It was a flurry of activity all generated by the unofficial end of winter. By early evening it was quiet and peaceful again. A light rain shower had moved through the area, the sun was beginning to set, and the lake had calmed. And as if to punctuate the end of a delightful spring day, a rainbow appeared in the sky and was reflected in the still of the water below.
Spring has gone on hiatus in Minnesota
The snow started Friday night. After 24 hours it was still coming down, whipped by the wind into whiteout conditions. Another 12 hours later the wind had calmed somewhat and the flurries were lighter, but still coming down. The snow was blown into drifts, and it was hanging precariously from the roof eaves. Anywhere from 10 to 12 inches were on the ground. As I headed out to start shoveling my eyes caught sight of the fence. The snow was perched carefully on the railings and even filled in the horizontal line to the caps of the posts. At the bottom the snow had drifted partway up. Two hours of shoveling and the snow was still coming down. Although this sort of snow is not unheard of in Minnesota in April, it is anything but spring-like, and most Minnesotans are dreaming of green grass. Soon!
The turn of a season and a calendar page
Like the flip of a switch, spring blew into the Twin Cities this past week. Last Monday, May 1st, brought us snow flurries in abundance – it looked and felt more like November than May. But as the week wore on, the temperatures rebounded, the sun appeared, and the leaves started opening. The tulips and daffodils became riots of color, the crabapple trees were awash in pinks and whites, and the once-barren, brown grass became green again. This weekend found people outside – gardening, walking, running, biking, having parties on their patios and decks – anything to soak up the warmth and the return of spring.
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