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Wake-Up Call!

© Barbara Hall

I'd like to have a word with the official 'Naming' Committee. Who came up with ALARM clocks? What a wretched thing to wake up to! I prefer Arouse Clocks, thank you very much. Here in Dutchess County, New York, USA, living things have been 'rousing' for the better part of a MONTH already.

The dear, sweet Willow trees rouse from so deep down that the fickle fluctuations of weather and temperatures don't even faze them. They begin their glowing yellow blush LONG before the OBVIOUS signs appear.

Since a nearly Winter-less winter like we've had (which has left us in serious drought mode) seems to be causing things to awaken OUT of order, that rather points to the fact that not all ArouseClocks are set for TEMPERATURES. The fact that we may well have daffodils blooming before crocuses, points to different 'settings' indeed. This makes for astonished crocuses and daffodils STARING at each other not sure just what to say. They've never SEEN each other BLOOM before! "Well, how do you do, I always thought you were just some little grass!"

What I noticed the most were the animals moving earlier than I'd ever seen them. Sadly, much of this 'research' was fueled by roadkill - skunks, possums, groundhogs and racoons up and on the move.

Having been a life-long professional gardener ('til the deerticks talked me into taking up BellyDancing) folks often neudged me to move where it's GARDENING SEASON all year round. So aware was I of my need for the four distinct seasons, I always said nope, I'll stay put, thank you. Whatever miseries we felt during New York Crummy Winters was directly proportional to the ecstatic JOY of the first whiff of spring, the first forsythia blossom, the sight of MUD and GRASS and flowers.

So I wondered this year, with this Winterless Winter we had, if we'd feel as silly when Spring arrived.......JUST as silly. Flowers are flowers and we MISS them in the winter. Green is green and even if lawns limp along, having the trees on the highland hills around us go soft with buds and then lush with leaves will ALWAYS be a joy. (sigh)

I've been watching for the return of my friends (no, NOT the Canadian Geese....) but up on the rocky, craggy cliffs above just about any road, the Mullein puppies are yawning and stretching their fuzzy leaves, ready to soak up the heat from those rocks and give us leaves for our lungs and flowers for our ear aches. The woods are carpeted with Garlic Mustard leaves for our lush, bitter/garlicky bits of fresh greens for our salads (and oh, it makes the most SPLENDID flavored vinegar).