Spring Things

Day 160: Three days ago, there was no colour in the garden. It usually comes on gradually, first grape hyacinths, then narcissi, then the double daffodils. Not this year! Admittedly, only a few of each have opened, but the sudden eruption of spring things has already brightened the yard considerably. With 75-degree days this last week, it's nor surprising, although the possibility of a few snowflakes looms toward the end of the week. And that's spring in the Pacific Northwest, springing back and forth between summer and winter for the next six weeks or so until equilibrium is achieved. The signs are clear: get out the gloves, the hoe, the seed-starting trays. Check the garden store for your favourite tomatoes and bedding plants. It's time to get growing!