Signs of spring 2015
Two weeks ago, when the
snow and deep freeze hit our farm, spring ground to a halt. It wasn't
until this past Saturday that I felt like we were on the upward swing
once again. The snow is finally melting faster than it's falling, and
here and there bits of plant matter are beginning to poke above the
snow.
Hazel catkins loosening
and disgorging their pollen are nearly always the first spring bloom on
our farm. Like everything else, I noticed the first catkin just about
blooming before our snow storm...then the hazel bush went right back to
sleep. But with highs above forty forecast for most of the next week,
I'm betting the maple sap will start flowing and we might even hear frogs as our snow finally melts away. I sure am glad we don't live in the North!
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About us: Anna Hess and Mark Hamilton spent over a decade living self-sufficiently in the mountains of Virginia before moving north to start over from scratch in the foothills of Ohio. They've experimented with permaculture, no-till gardening, trailersteading, home-based microbusinesses and much more, writing about their adventures in both blogs and books.
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It is such a boost to the spirits to see these little signs of spring. Here in the northeast the robins have been here for awhile,( dont know WHAT they are eating) and songbirds have started their mating songs. We are still buried in snow, with more coming, but the sun feels warmer, and temps are finally predicted to be above freezing several days this week. We are drilling our taps today. (Wearing snowshoes) 😊
"I sure am glad we don't live in the North!"
As well you might be! Here in the north we have another month of full-on winter ahead of us. March is the most difficult month of year up here, as far as I am concerned. Much talk of spring to the south of us, while old man winter continues to pound us with frigid temperatures and significant snowfall.
"Snowbirds" up here this term refers to those who are retired and winter in the warmer states in the US. There is a reason for that!