I count the passing of the seasons by what’s happening in my garden. I know spring is near when the witch hazel blooms. Then the snow recedes, and the snowdrops appear. Daffodils and other spring flowering bulbs follow. When the early flowers bloom, the air takes on their fragrance, but none are as fragrant as … Continue reading Spring is in the Air
weather
Thoughts on the Eve of Spring
Today is the last day of winter. The snow has melted, leaving only small patches here and there in the parts of the yard that spend their days in the shade. The witch hazel is a glorious yellow outside my window, its spidery flowers vibrant against the blue sky. Snowdrops and daffodils have emerged from … Continue reading Thoughts on the Eve of Spring
Let the Melting Commence
Temperatures have become decidedly milder over the past couple of days. The ice-covered snow that’s been with us for nearly two weeks has finally begun to retreat. While I know this isn’t the last snowfall we’ll see this season, it feels good to see all that white stuff melting. Usually when we get a storm—anything from … Continue reading Let the Melting Commence
Frightful February
It’s been said that February is the cruelest month. I don’t know about that, but it sure is the month when winter makes itself most known around here. Like winter (the shortest season at 89 days), the year’s shortest month seems endlessly long. By the time February rolls around, the holidays and our collective dreams of … Continue reading Frightful February
Thundersnow and the Tricks Winter Plays
Up until a few years ago, I’d never heard of thundersnow. Electrical storms are common in the Berkshires in summer, particularly during the hot days of July and August. They’re often brief and violent with a heavy downpour of rain, gusting winds making even the tallest trees dance against the solemn gray sky, and a … Continue reading Thundersnow and the Tricks Winter Plays
Gray Skies
If ever there was an in-your-face reminder that we’re all connected through the world around us, I only need to look up to see it. Gray skies—and not the “it’s going to rain” kind—lend an eerie feel to the day. The sun is up there somewhere, oddly illuminating the haze. And there are clouds moving … Continue reading Gray Skies
Pen, Paper, Plant 