Tuesday, February 17, 2015

The Season of Renewal

By the time Easter comes, spring would have (I hope) arrived even where I live in upstate New York.
Snow falling, downtown Binghamton, New York
Right now, spring seems like it is thousands of miles away.  Snow is piled outside.
Glaciers have formed on the roadsides.
Not my yard

One day - oh please, let it be one day soon - I will see this instead when I walk outside.

30 more days until the first day of spring.


Spring is the season of renewal.  Part of this, for the gardener, is preparing for the growing season.  Seed catalogs have been arriving since November, and we've been reading, dreaming and planning.

Our hour of decision is now upon us.  It is time to take the leap of faith that gardening demands.

The outspoken CEO of Burpee, George Ball, once wrote an essay called Easter in the Garden.  I invite you to read it. It does have a religious slant, but I think there is a universal message in this essay.

Spring. The return of warmth and green. Peeps marshmallow candy, and baskets full of goodies can be nice, but what we celebrate is the reawakening of nature after the sleep of winter.  It is the season of forging ahead to meet the future, and to be grateful we've been permitted to see another spring come.
Ice on the street side near my driveway

Until then, we lower our heads, grit our teeth, and dream.  And, putting our faith of the return of spring into action, we start filling out our seed orders.

17 comments:

  1. It sounds as if (and looks!) you have plenty to grit your teeth about, Alana! All the snow and ice that you've been receiving, my goodness! C'mon, Spring!!

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  2. You sure are getting a lot of snow this year! Set your alarm clock for May, and hopefully it will be gone by then!

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    1. I wish I could set that alarm clock for May (or at least late April) - I am envious of bears right now!

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  3. Not only are daffodils a welcome sight, the fragrance is to be savored with delight.

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    1. I love daffodils - they come in so many color variations and sizes. I treasure them both for being part of the delight of spring and for them being hardy and not attractive to deer.

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  4. Beautiful daffodils. Hold on to that picture. It WILL be your yard in a few weeks!

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    1. The daffodils will be up one day. The daffodils will be up one day....

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  5. I like the analogy of the re-awakening of nature. I want to start my own home vegetable garden and know NOTHING about it. I am somewhat notorious for killing plants, either by watering too much or too little. Would you be willing to share expertise? I will be chronicling my gardening experiments in my blog, and will most definitely send linkbacks to you for any advice you might offer! Feel free to contact me directly at theinnovativemama [at] gmail [dot] com with any tips that could become blog fodder! :)

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    1. I had started (years ago) blogging a series of "how to plant a garden". It lasted oh, one post. I should try it again. I will give you a tip about overwatering of houseplants in the meantime. When a potted plant needs water, the pot will feel light. Try lifting the pot and "weighing it" before you water. And, of course, the colder it is outside, the more you will need to water, because your heating system is drying out your plants.

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  6. Love the Daffodils and the snow. The longing you showcase here, for the spring, reminds me of a dejected lover awaiting his lady love. LOL.

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    1. In a way, you are right! I know I whine a lot about winter, and I know that local plants need the winter to thrive, but I truly think it is one season I should be able to fast-forward through.

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  7. Eager heart waiting for blossoms of spring! The word spring itself fuels renewed hopes, rekindles warmth and joy :) Mean while enjoy the snow!!

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    1. You are right! And I do realize that, down deep inside of my heart.

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  8. I feel for you buried under all that snow. The cherry blossom tree in front of my house is already starting to bloom. I wish you could see it. reading your blog kinda gives me a new perspective on spring and gardening so I knew it was way early. I learned something!

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    1. Cherry blossoms. Almost two months away. Ah well. Send pictures. Hope I'm not whining about winter TOO much.

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  9. Lovely pictures. Spring is what we all crave for.

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