Wednesday, February 18, 2009

spring has sprung

Well maybe it hasn't actually sprung. There are signs that winter, as we've come to know it in the great northwest, may finally be coming to an end. Like our economy, it’s trying to recover. It came as no surprise when the first week of February brought sunshine. February in Oregon brings a few days that give us a sense that spring is near, and this year was no exception. M and I took a few hours off together to go for a long bike ride, then out for a leisurely lunch. The fair weather kicked me into gear to accomplish a few of those gnawing little things, like cleaning out the chicken coop, cutting back perennials that should have been trimmed in the fall, gathering fallen tree branches. The arctic blasts did quite a number on our yard!

If you look very carefully right now. In mid February. You just might see a few small indications of spring in your garden. I had to look at the smallest details to locate any evidence. Equipped with a macro lens, here are some of the tiny signs I discovered...

one lone forsythia flower in bloom...

signs of spring in Feb

several hydrangea leaves sprouting...

signs of spring in Feb

a cluster of daffodil shoots emerged...

signs of spring in Feb

one tiny miniature purple iris budding... I was on my hands and knees before I spotted this little thing (don’t ask)

signs of spring in Feb

compact daphne flower clusters ready to open...

signs of spring in Feb

The warmer weather was a reminder for me to spend quality time with friends and family, and to embrace all the good things in life. So when our friends K & N ask us to join them on an escape to the beach for the long weekend, we jumped on it. While we were busy packing food, clothing and dog treats into bags, snow was quietly falling outside the windows. Games were packed. Flip flops. Unpacked. Visions of an inside weekend lay ahead. A weekend of snuggling up by the fire for hours on end while sipping hot chocolate and playing endless word games was inevitable. During the hour and a half drive, snow quickly turned to rain and the clouds parted to reveal clear blue skies by the time we arrived. Now where did I put that sunscreen?

Manzanita

13 comments:

Susan said...

((SIGH))

Beautiful photos and lyrical text that makes me want to be there, too. You sure do know how to make a girl wistful.

Here in Ohio today, it's 25 degrees and a dusting of snow on the ground with 35 MPH winds. Winter is still with us.

thecitychicken said...

Wow!! Your photography on this blog is great! You must have a fancy camera! Keep up the good work, ---Katy Skinner (www.thecitychicken.com)

Cindy said...

Thanks Susan! Sorry you're still having that super cold winter stuff. I really did have a hard time locating the small indications of spring sprouting around here, but I'm very eager for signs that it's not far away.

On Feb 2 the African hedgehog, Chikri, at the Oregon Zoo saw her shadow. So it's possible we haven't seen the last of winter around here.

Cindy said...

Hi Katy, thanks for visiting my blog and for your compliment. I don't have a real fancy camera, just an eye for details.

thecitychicken.com is the very first chicken site I ever found. Back when having chickens was just a dream. I feel like you played a part in making it all happen.

Our Juicy Life said...

really nice photos! Ah, we are waiting anxiously for spring. Each day we inspect the trees for any sign. It's coming but not fast enough here. The weather for March 3rd says sunny and 62. We are so excited for 62, which is crazy because when we lived in Los Angeles 62 was chilly, now here in France is warm. le sigh.

jazgal said...

Nice work! Both the prose and the photos are a delight!
There are little sprouts coming up in my yard too, it will be a surprise because we can't remember what my husband planted in the Fall.

Anonymous said...

Oh, man, I am SO jealous. It's all snow way up here. In fact our power went out yesterday because a tree, laden with snow from the snow storm two nights ago, dropped on the power lines... *SIGH*

Theresa said...

Gorgeous pics, C. You liar - that is a fancy camera!

Cindy said...

Thanks Alisa! 62 sounds nice to me. We actually had a dusting of snow again yesterday, but the little iris' are blooming. Sounds like your spring will be busy with visitors. Enjoy!

Cindy said...

hi Jazgal, thanks for visiting. Ooo surprise spring flowers... and a husband who plants them!

Cindy said...

HorseFeathers, hope you weren't without power for long! That's one of the things we were very grateful for this cold winter... a warm house. The power stayed on.

Cindy said...

62TeeBird, thanks for the visit. Okay, let me be more specific... I have a fancy macro lens. I see you have that eye for detail too!

jazgal said...

This is a new phase for the husband, but his interest in the garden is welcome! I did a quick survey and saw that the hellebore (love that name)and rhodies are well under way, and the miniature irises and daffodils are starting to peek.

I love your chicken portraits - did I mention that I came across another local artist who does chicken portraits (oils) and has 12 chickens? You can see her work at bantampainter.com I am hoping to buy a charcoal sketch of bees from her this weekend - buzz!