Spring is a Dud so Far - but Here's Cheer!

Well, Spring came in with a gigantic thud yesterday. A thud, because on a day that evokes images of sun and balmy breezes we instead had snow. And then lots of little thuds as people all over the world tried to do that trick so popular on the day of the Vernal equinox - standing an egg up on end. This year, for some reason, the eggs seemed reluctant to do so - although after wasting far too much time on it I finally got mine to perform.

Vernal equinox refers to the day in the year when the sun is directly at the equator - thus the world seems more balanced somehow - and so eggs tend to remain erect more easily than on other days. This year's many reports of failure don't bode well to those who put their faith in omens - especially given the oddity of the weather we've had the past couple of years.

Still, vernal equinox also means that we had exactly 12 hours of day and 12 hours of night on March 20 - and from now on the daylight hours will begin to outstrip those of darkness - something that should brighten us up considerably.

On the darker side - it's snowing again now and the temperature is plunging into the low teens - something that didn't happen often even in the dead of winter. This is distressing when I think of all the flowers that popped their bright little faces above ground in the past couple of weeks. Some may remain unfazed but for others, the temperature plunge spells doom - at least for the individual blossoms. Things still in bud, or which haven't yet budded out are probably quite safe.

I worry too about trees and shrubs that have begun to leaf out as this sort of reversal can upset them terribly. I suspect that when the weather evens out a bit my pruning shears will get a good workout removing branches and twigs killed by the late cold snaps. On days so balmy that I could work wearing only a light sweater pruning back the roses seemed not just safe but a great idea. And it was - for those who obediently kept their foliage unfurled. Others with tender new growth will be affected - one hopes not too adversely. After all, these plants are more accustomed to Nature's vagaries than we are - they spend their entire lives out in the elements.

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