by Leslie Cox; Monday; March 20, 2017

Clematis recta - early springFinally! The first day of spring has arrived…even if there is still frost on the ground in the morning. Here is hoping snow will be just a memory henceforth…that we are done with it until the winter solstice.

With the official arrival of spring, I am starting to feel positively giddy. The slow lengthening of daylight hours. The gentle rise in daily temperatures. Brilliant blue skies skidded with fluffy pure white clouds. Fresh new leaves bursting from bare branches as trees and shrubs waken from winter slumber. Plants thrusting upward from the soil changing a barren landscape into a Garden of Eden.

Dodecatheon meadia flowers

 

Each new day present me with a fresh bouquet of flowers. Tantalizing scents abound, carried hither and beyond on gentle breezes with great abandon. Birds, bees, and butterflies flit endlessly around the garden collecting nectar from their favourite flowers. All of this excites me immensely. I think, perhaps, I am coming down with a healthy case of spring fever.

 

Hummingbird

I am certainly experiencing some of the classic symptoms. Daydreaming about how the beautiful garden will be this year. Increased heart rate as more seed varieties sprout up under my grow lights. Feeling of ecstasy from doing garden chores…such as I never, ever experience when doing household chores. Pure joy in welcoming each plant’s re-emergence from hibernation in the garden. Astounded by the beauty and continuance of life held in each flower. Feeling of awe and humility at the pure majesty of nature.

 

Swallowtail butterflyNo one has been able to really pinpoint the true cause for the symptoms of spring fever we experience, although some claim hormones play a key role. For my money, I think the reason can be directly linked to winter. No matter how long…or how short…winter’s shortened days, grey skies, cold rain, freezing temperatures, icy landscapes, and drifts of snow all lend themselves to creating an irreversible dose of spring fever on the vernal equinox. We quite simply rejoice with great abandon because winter is finally in our rear view mirror.