Once more Spring is waiting in the wings. We see her peeking from the shadows of a magnolia bush where velvet buds, put on during the autumn, are ready at a moment’s notice to open into a wild display of magnificence. Lime green shoots are displacing brown leaves by the sidewalk and small knobs on lilac bushes, clematis vines and forsythia are showing the tiniest bit of green.
A drive by the marshy places shows a change in the willow trees lining the road. Gradually the brown bark of winter has become distinctly yellow and we know they are waking and stretching, ready for their debut as the first act of spring. Soon the highways and back roads will be bordered by lacy redbuds and the woodlands carpeted with Spring Beauties. Dogwood and Shadbush, wild plum and May apple will weave delicate arbors for dogtooth violets and wild geraniums. The wood will develop a smell all its own as the spring thaw allows small burrowing animals and worm-seeking birds to turn over last year’s mulch of leaves and moss.
High flying skeins of Canada geese call to those below who wintered over along the Wabash. Sand hill cranes call as they fly to their summer home in Nebraska. We see the redwings and grackles, robins and bluebirds scouting out the most prestigious home sites. Cardinals, blue jays and titmice begin singing the praises of spring. Turkey Vultures wheel and dance in the blue skies and we look for eagles here and there.
Winter wheat turns fields into emerald lawns and there is a difference in the light. The high tips of the Chinese Elms shine silver as though trumpeting the change that will soon begin. Stately pines stand rather aloof looking down on all this hustle bustle of spring. After all, they have stood four square through winter’s storms and kept green in the mix of somber browns.
But we know they will be soon be covered by tips of soft pale green and will grow larger in
summer’s landscape
This used to be the time when baby chicks were picked up from the feed store in town. Heavy cardboard boxes with holes poked in the lid and a chorus of cheeps signaled the presence of fuzzy yellow babies for the brooder house. It was a time for new life, with small sturdy calves showing up in the pastures and black and white sows leading a parade of squealing look-alikes.
Those times are mostly gone now and our thoughts turn to the mighty morel. As soon as days turn warm and the first warm spring rains fall, the woods and roadsides and even yards become fertile hunting grounds for mushroom hunters. Soon you will see pictures of proud hunters holding a 15 inch beauty found in an unnamed spot and the contest is on.
We know that molehills and dandelions will also appear, but Spring has come again to Indiana and we are blessed and happy Hoosiers!
