Canadian Gardening: Signs of Spring, 1 by Lilypon

Lilypon wrote:
We are, after all, absolutely surrounded by signs of spring. Sure, they may not be the same signs that harken the season in places like Toronto and Vancouver - you know, robins, Easter parades, the fall fashion shows - that sort of thing. But we have plenty of signs.

But unless you keep an eye out for them, they're easy to miss. For those of you facing your first springtime here, here are some annual observances I wouldn't want anyone to miss:

- The explosion of red and pink silklike valentine roses and "Final Clearance" poinsettias in the floral aisle at Walmart has been replaced with bushes of forsythia, pussy willows and daffodils.

Serious crafters, of course, were in several weeks back for faux green carnations for their St. Pat's wreath. (Crafters are always ahead of the pack on this sort of thing.)

- You consider turning off the humidifier in the bedroom.

- A little patch of earth along your front walk (in the sunniest area) - long ago frozen more solid than Teamster cement - has finally had the snow above it disappear and thawed and softened just enough to release the Halloween lawn ornaments you staked into the ground five months ago.

- You spot the season's first hitch-hiker (frozen solid beside Mac the Moose)

- The Globe and Mail Gardening edition sells out at your neighborhood gas station.

- Garden catalogs start showing up, inspiring you to plant a raspberry patch, grow heirloom tomatoes and start a compost pile. (If this is your second or maybe even third spring around here, you toss these in the recycling bin the minute they arrive, the memory of last year's failed water garden still vivid in your mind.)

- You realize that soon you will have to turn on the basement dehumidifier.

- Your feet are free of wool socks and waterproof boots just long enough for you to ponder the dilemma of really, really, really needing a pedicure.

But needing one so badly that, well, you're a bit too embarrassed to take your wool socks and waterproof boots off in front of your pedicurist.

-Shaving your legs is also considered now.

- You no longer envy the neighbor's snowblower (hahahahaha ;). You envy his riding lawn mower (still buried at the back of his garage).

- All of the energy and acumen you've been using to avoid hitting a deer and causing massive damage to your car now goes to avoiding potholes.

- You hear the season's first motorcycle (being reved up in the neighbours garage).

But now, out of the blue, you say, "Yes! Yes! I want ice cream! Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Ice Cream, please!" *grin*

- Your heating bill has slipped from obscene to simply vulgar.

- You leave your office at the end of the day and the sun is shining.

-The temperature outside was still below 0 degrees celcius (on Mar 22 & 23/06 ;) edited to say at 1:51 pm we hit +3 (but with windchill are still @ -1 :(

-The greenhouses here won't be open until, at least, May 1st. :'(

-Finally you catch yourself longingly eyeing your BBQ (that is still frozen shut with 3 inches of ice encasing it). :'(



Your prediction of the below was just a *bit* off Sofer......... ;)

This message was edited Mar 23, 2006 1:53 PM