Signs of Spring are Adding Up

The sun is stronger, usually melting any light snow in a few hours.  And the days are surely longer.  The light is brighter, even when it is cloudy.  The birdsong is sprightlier, the “cheer” of the Cardinals is beginning to predominate.  I swear there are buds beginning to swell on some trees.  The roads are clear by mid-morning, even without the plows coming through. 

I’ll bet, if I could get over to the place, that I’d find a few alliums beginning to poke through the soil beneath the snow.  And, because the snow has melted along a strip in the South and East sides of the house,  Kate is finding her way around the southeast corner of the house and all the way to the other end of the east side.  Her world has expanded.  We saw her gazing longingly at the creek today, though the snow is still keeping her from attempting to get there. 

My orchids are all putting forth flower stalks, and even the 20 year old hoya that has never bloomed is setting buds.  (that last could be related to my having moved it into a bright south window after years of keeping it against a wall on the other side of the room.) 

It’s time to start propagating the geranium cuttings hanging in the basement, and soon to take out the cannas and assess their winter survival.

Snow Again

Just got another 5 or six inches of snow, to cover the dirty piles that had been melting for several weeks.  Looks beautiful again outside.  It is mid-February, though, and it would be nice to start seeing things move toward spring.  The days are getting longer for sure, it was still light at 5:30 last night.  And the stronger sun clears the deck in short order.

The aerator and small heater are easily keeping up with the cold and snow, maintaining a patch of open water that should allow the fish to survive the winter outside.  Will be interesting to see if they regain their boldness that they lost after the encounter with the heron last fall.

This post was made as a demonstration for the Torch Club meeting tonight.