Home » Plants & Animals » Cottage Garden » April Fools

April Fools

© Barbara M. Martin

Dear reader, please note: Thank you for visiting my Cottage Garden topic and reading my columns, published here from February 1997 through spring 2003! I regret I am no longer actively editing or contributing to this suite101.com topic as of mid-2003. Happy Gardening! This Cottage Garden column was written by Barbara M. Martin and is Copyrighted by Barbara M. Martin. It may not be altered or copied or published elsewhere in whole or in part without specific permission from the author.

Well, okay. It's officially April and by all accounts Spring should be here by now. But it's overdue. I say should because it has been snowing for the past two days and bring up Spring because that's what the calendar says.

According to the popular wisdom we all learned back in kindergarten when life was simple, secure, and followed the rules, March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb. This little lambie-pie of a March has some kind of an attitude. And April doesn't look much better so far. Phooey.

In a sincere effort to suspend disbelief and squarely ignore the reality of this obscenely cold and uncooperative, shall we say "difficult" weather -- although I lived in the show-me state of Missouri long enough to become a strong adherent to the show me and I'll believe it mind set -- I am here to assert that Spring began at the Equinox and by gum it's gonna happen outside any time now. I insist!

I did not spend all that precious equinoctial time, effort and mental energy focused on standing an egg on its end for nothing! And even though one could theoretically do that little juggling act any day of the year should one be so inclined, I performed that display as a Rite of Spring, not as some kind of parlour game magician's trickery.

Hrrrrrrrrrumph. It's time for frustrated gardeners to band together and declare Spring is Here. The HECK with the weather!

I hereby announce my plan for April Fools. Beginning today I will upload a daily photo from my garden. No fooling! This will provide real-time proof that Spring is indeed on the way.

Now, let it be understood that if I should be on the road traveling or if the weather should be so inclement as to prevent my venturing forth camera in hand, then I'll just have to cheat and either use an old photo or take two the following day. But I'll do my best.