Harbingers

[muckefuck]

It's so chilly, gray, and melancholy today that you would think yesterday's crystal blue skies and near-record temperatures were only a dream if not for what they coaxed up out of the flowerbeds. I was relieved to discover that the builders hadn't plowed over all of the winter aconite next door; at this rate, it will soon be in full bloom. Snowdrops are appearing as well, although not in the profusion they are near the administration building. The hyacinths there are up and budding. In response, the ground crews have been busily stripping the winter mulch to avoid smothering the spring shoots. Surprisingly, I've only seen one or two squill, even though these are usually one of the first flowers to appear.

But it's in the south-facing lawns of cozily residential Arthur Avenue that the real show is shaping up. Those fragile croci I first spotted last week actually survived after all (although they still haven't opened) and they are coming up in profusion a few houses further east. I can't find the the daffodil plant that was collapsed by the cold and its neighbours are coming into bud. The true surprise, however, is the appearance of irises. When I spotted one a few days ago, I thought it was a fluke, but now there are several tight blossoming bunches of them. Perhaps this year's equinox will be on time after all.

Comments

[jaquez.livejournal.com]

Hi, I stumbled across your journal from the Linguaphiles community and I really like the way you write. Might I be permitted to friend you? :)

[muckefuck.livejournal.com]

Je t'en prie!

[jaquez.livejournal.com]

Mais non c'est pour moi. :)

[tekalynn.livejournal.com]

Irises? In March? In Chicago? Good heavens.

[muckefuck.livejournal.com]

I know! I think there's radium in the soil there or something.