Have you ever noticed that one sunny day when you are driving or walking down your street there seems to be a green haze in the air, as the leaves unfurl? Even though you have been waiting and watching for it, all of a sudden that day arrives!

Not quite that day here in my neighborhood, but it won’t be long!

Today my forsythia began to bloom, which is my sign that spring has actually begun. Even though I noticed that my daffs and tulips are out of the ground, they aren’t blooming yet. Some years the forsythia blooms just before or after a snow shower, but it doesn’t matter to me. I know that will pass shortly, and sometimes so quickly that summer is here before I can catch my breath.

My daughter once sent me something that is titled ‘Phenology in the Garden’. I think it’s a really helpful guideline for planting in the garden, at least here in the north. Maybe you will think so too. Here it is. She thinks it came from the Old Farmer’s Almanac:The word ‘phenology’ was coined in the 19th century from the word phenomenon. The Merriam-Webster definition is: “a branch of science dealing with the relations between climate and periodic biological phenomena (such as bird migration or plant flowering.)”

It’s time for salad stuff; hearty greens, peas and onions. I’m in zone 6b, and my last frost date is about April 15. I haven’t started anything outside here yet, but probably will do some herbs in pots on the patio outside the back door where I can easily harvest them, and see them every time I open the door to let the dog out. The chives are already flourishing in several pots out there (you can’t kill them!)

If you haven’t seen this before, here is one way to start a salad patch when the weather is still chilly:

I won’t be able to put out tomatoes and peppers for at least another two months unless they are protected. Having a small greenhouse this time of year would be really handy. Some of the herbs can go out soon, like the thyme, oregano, parsley and sage. The basil can live happily in the house until it is quite warm outside. I will plant more seed for later, both inside and outside. I have some flower seeds too that I should probably start now, along with the cucumbers and some additional peppers.

One thing I like about working in the yard is that I see the plants that remind me of their ‘history’. The forsythia, rose of sharon and bearded iris were shared by a former coworker. The lilac came to me via my daughter’s neighbor, from their cottage in Door County, Wisconsin. A lavender was a birthday gift from a friend. The lily of the valley and bachelor buttons moved with me from my former house.

Spring

Nothing is so beautiful as Spring –
When weeds, in wheels, shoot long and lovely and lush;
Thrush’s eggs look little low heavens, and thrush
Through the echoing timber does so rinse and wring
The ear, it strikes like lightnings to hear him sing;

The glassy pear tree leaves and blooms, they brush
The descending blue; that blue is all in a rush
With richness; the racing lambs too have fair their fling.

What is all this juice and all this joy?
A strain of the earth’s sweet being in the beginning
In Eden garden. – Have, get, before it cloy,
Before it cloud, Christ, lord, and sour with sinning,
Innocent mind and Mayday in girl and boy,
Most, O maid’s child, thy choice and worthy the winning.

Gerard Manley Hopkins

For behold, the winter is past; the rain is over and gone. The flowers appear on the earth, the time of singing has come, and the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land.

Song Of Solomon 2:11-12