Further signs of spring

[muckefuck]

I can't explain why I've put off this post for so long. I treasure ever milestone in the ineluctable progress of spring, yet I've been strangely reticent to share them. Last week, I saw my first tulip (Wednesday), my first forsythia (Thursday), and my first magnolia (Friday). Today, I saw bluebells in the bud. I also saw two weeping cherries outside Big Chicks, but I'm not counting then as they were hothouse-forced and freshly planted, just like the pansies appearing all over.

Leaves are appearing on the privet and the smaller trees, but most haven't gotten past the budding stage. The silver maples are conspicuous for their large dark-red ones and the weeping willows are taking on that lovely yellowgreen cast that they'll wear for a little while longer yet.

I'm glad its cooling off a bit, since my father always says the secret to a good spring is a few days of unseasonably warm temps to get everything started followed by weeks of cooler weather to keep it around. Last year, spring in St. Louis was over in a fortnight because it was just too damn warm.

Comments

[anicca-anicca.livejournal.com]

Interesting, Berlin is in the same stage of spring. Saw my first Magnolia in Berlin on Monday. (And lots of lilies of the valley (Maiglöckchen) in the woods, mainly the green leaves, though. Too early yet.)