Celestial spring transpired at 7:02 EDT this morning. Despite the patches of snow and ice on the back deck and a thermometer at 36 degrees and a slicing northwest wind chilling things down below freezing, spring is here. The vernal equinox splits the day into equal parts and from now until the summer solstice in June the days will gradually lengthen. Upstate and across New England a foot and more of snow is anticipated, putting a blanket on any celebrations of the arrival of spring.
The inevitable march of the season is already underway with crocus urging their way into daylignt and showing splashes of purple, yellow and white in the garden borders. Myrtle is showing its sky-blue flowers among its greening vines. Cardinals are piping out their territories and woodpeckers are sounding their tattoos to one another. A few red-winged blackbirds and grackles and even a brown-headed cowbird have invaded the feeders in the yard. A flock of a few dozen robins were on the schoolyard playing field last week.
The tide of spring is rising - enjoy!
