Sunday, March 08, 2009

Sunday Stroll - Stretching Toward Spring


I was up before the sun this morning so that I could drive my daughter to work. The horses on a neighboring farm were already awake and nibbling the colorless stubble of last year's grass.
I waited another couple of hours before taking my stroll, hoping for something warmer than 34 degrees F. Despite waiting, that is exactly the temperature I encountered outside my front door. In the front garden, tulips and hyacinth are stretching toward the light... and the spring.


Down in the butterfly garden, the trail is beginning to emerge from beneath layers of snowfall. Daffodil tips and strawberry leaves dot the thawed patches with green. From beneath the leaf litter, ferocious beasts are emerging.




The thawed patches are like windows, offering a little reminder of last year's garden or a hint of the coming spring.




In the herb garden, lemon thyme and its English cousin are peeking out, aromatic and fresh. Parsley wakes from its long winter's sleep and the bright green leaves of salad burnett offer a mild hint of cucumber, several months before the real thing is available.



A tiny sprig of oregano is ready to be plucked for the soup pot, but is hiding beneath the dried brown stalks of last year's tiny white blooms, and daffodils tip poke up beneath a veil of lavender twigs that will have to be clipped back so that the bright yellow blooms can find the sun.



I came back in the house to bake some bread, do a little housework, and catch up on my reading for a class in International Relations.

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13 comments:

Farmer's Daughter said...

I'm always so happy to see those signs of spring!

Margaret Porter said...

Wow--true signs of springtime!

Marcie said...

Abbie & Margaret,

Yes, spring is coming! I'm so ready, even though I try never to wish my time away. *grin*

Thanks for visiting.

Phill said...

Such a welcome sight - the tops of bulbs and sprouts! I think we have been talking about willing Spring into being for long enough that it is actually starting to happen.

Marcie said...

Small Pines/Mouse,

Yes, well... let's keep talking it into existence, ok? You've got to get those garden beds started! It will be a really special spring and summer for you as a new way of life begins!

Thanks for visiting so reliably each Sunday! :)

One Woman's Journey - a journal being written from Woodhaven - her cottage in the woods. said...

Your images are an exciting reminder that Spring is around the corner. I miss the warmth of the sunshine. Take Care.

Marcie said...

Ernestine, Ah, I miss that warmth of sunshine too. I can't wait for it to really arrive. This evening, hours after my stroll, the snow is coming down rapidly. All my world will be white again soon. I'm glad I got a glimpse of my heralds of spring before the snow returned.

Thank you for your nice comment!

Everydaywoman said...

Oh, there are signs of spring out there! It looks like your snow is receding and the tulips and hyacinths are welcome sights! It's amazing that horses will nibble at the least brown stubble, whatever pokes through the snow. Sounds like quite an interesting, challenging course?

Marcie said...

Ruth, Well... my signs of spring were covered by 10 inches of snow last night! It looks like a different world again. My neighbor is plowing our private lane, as I write this.

The poli-sci class is very difficult, but I do think it is interesting. It allows one to connect to and understand world politics in a new way. Wish me luck though; I'm finding it the most difficult of my current courses.

Robbin said...

Beautiful picture Aisling. When I get to where I'm going I'm going to get back to Sunday strolls. I'll have lots of new things to share.

Marcie said...

Robbin,

I can't wait for that day! You must be so excited. :)

hugs,
Aisling

Anonymous said...

Looks like Spring is well and truly there in your part of the woods. Enjoy yourself and all of your returning friends and ferocious beasts (and class reading :)).

Marcie said...

Spring is back this morning, but last Sunday evening after I wrote that post, we got 10 inches of the white stuff! It was a cold, blustery week, but the week ahead looks wonderful. Thanks for visiting! :)