It's really spring!

[altivo]

In spite of a setback in the weather as we've dropped from 30C to 5C in just three days, with heavy dark clouds and occasional cold rain, the real harbingers of spring are here. Daffodils all bloomed at once in the heat earlier in the week. We have them planted all over in many different shades and shapes. It doesn't last long but it's glorious. I saw the first bluebird in the pasture a week ago, and today the real proof: not only is the rhubarb starting to leaf out rapidly, but the first asparagus stalk of harvestable size has appeared, with another half dozen that will be ready tomorrow.

Asparagus *is* spring. It generally appears late in April here, and we can keep cutting the fresh sprouts for three or four weeks before we let it go. Seems kind of cruel, but it's soooo tasty. Old time gardeners swear that by cutting it back like that every spring, you get more and more each year. Out with the pocket knife whenever I see one, and snip! Yummy.

Comments

[songdogmi.livejournal.com]

Here I am looking out at the slow falling on the trees that are about half-way through leafing out.... I can hardly imagine asparagus right now. They've actually put up a winter storm warning here for up to 10 inches of snow overnight. It won't stick around long, but it's just too weird anyway.

[altivo.livejournal.com]

Ten inches!? *stifles crude joke*

Gaa. They said a couple of days ago that it might snow here Friday or Saturday. But it didn't get THAT cold, and all we've had are bits of cold rain or drizzle. Yesterday morning was the worst. The sun is trying to break through now. I put the snow forecast down to pure sensationalism. But if you're actually getting snow there, then maybe we were just lucky. I hope it melts fast. I love snow in December, but in April or May it is not welcome.

[calydor.livejournal.com]

*thwaps*

Jokes about length all belong to me.

[bariki.livejournal.com]

Hey, that's not fair - I need some of them, otherwise I'd be left with jokes about Irishmen and pianists only. :P

[songdogmi.livejournal.com]

I just realized I typed "slow" for "snow." Duh.

My neighborhood hasn't gotten much accumulation yet. There's been mostly rain and the snow was very wet and melted quickly. But a little further north they're getting a good amount of snow. The Weather Channel even posted one of their meteorologists in Pontiac which is about 20 miles northwest of the center city.

And tomorrow, it's supposed to be 50. *shrug*

[altivo.livejournal.com]

Yup, I know Pontiac. My parents both grew up there and were married there. The first house they lived in was in Pontiac and my older brother was born there. :)

That's the way with spring snowstorms, here today, mud tomorrow.

[songdogmi.livejournal.com]

At least all the rain and wet snow reinvigorated the grass. It's very green now.

Have you been back to Pontiac in recent years? The downtown has changed a lot in parts, because they tried to make it a big entertainment district. That effort was only partly successful -- there's still a big parking lot right in the middle of it, which is convenient but kind of a waste of space except for the fact that there isn't anything else that wants to use it.

[altivo.livejournal.com]

To tell the truth, no. I was last actually in Pontiac sometime in the 70s probably. I have been in Oakland County a number of times, but my interests there now lie in other places. I do some amateur genealogy and have a good bit of family history in Southfield and West Bloomington Townships. A number of ancestors who lived, died, and were buried there, including some fairly colorful ones. Some more from St. Clair County, where my great-grandfather had an 80 acre farm right after the Civil War. I'd like to see that site, and I know exactly where it is on the map (probably it's a housing development now and I'd be horribly disappointed, but I'd like to look.)

[bariki.livejournal.com]

Spring is certainly here in the UK. No asparagus growing around here, that's for sure, but the poppies are appearing once again at the roadsides here and in between the fields, as are the daffodils and snowdrops.

Of course, the main giveaway is that most of the mares on the riding school have come into a "group heat" - it's most amusing. ^)^

[altivo.livejournal.com]

Only one mare here, so it's impossible to define "group heat". Unless it affects geldings and furries, I can't measure it.

[bariki.livejournal.com]

No, I don't think that one mare can count as a group. As for the other two.. well, I think it's best not to explore that too deeply. :P

[kistaro]

I'm sorry, but I have to disagree. The one primary definor of spring, to me, has simply not happened yet. It just won't be springtime in St. Louis until the required event comes to pass.

So I ask, where are our tornado sirens? They haven't gone off for anything but tests this year! With no tornado warnings yet, it can't possibly really be spring, can it?

[altivo.livejournal.com]

Oh we get those, but rarely in early spring. They tend to hit in June and July, once the afternoons are good and hot.

[doco.livejournal.com]

What? You don't have any Poles at all picking the asparagus for you? :)

[altivo.livejournal.com]

I have a Pole to help eat it. Does that count?

[doco.livejournal.com]

Certainly. :)

[bariki.livejournal.com]

Poles? Do you have that many Polish people living where you are and, if so, are they particularly fond of asparagus?

>:) |:)

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Poles? Do you have that many Polish people living where you are and, if so, are they particularly fond of asparagus?

>:) |:) <:) |:) >;)