False Springs
Meteorologist would have you believe that it starts on the 1st March each year. Astronomers with the March Equinox. Mother Nature will make you think it’s happening multiple times before it actually does.
Truth is Spring arrives when it arrives, except when it doesn’t and it’s a false spring. There can be a few of these, where the sunshines and the weather is noticeably warmer and if it goes on long enough it can trick some species including humans into thinking that Spring has arrived when it hasn’t and then hopes are dashed when temperatures drop and sunshine is replaced by dull skies and potentially rain.
I think this year we’ve had a few of these, particularly with February being and incredibly dry month but the rains returned in March. I think it’s probably safe to say now that I think Spring is actually here, although there is still a taste of frost in the air early on some mornings, but the days definitely seem to be an improvement.
In the garden seeds that I’ve sown are starting to germinate and there are signs all around the garden of proper springtime plants. Bulbs that were sown months ago are now flowering. I’ve even had to mow part of our lawn, although it looks as though there are a lot of orchid plants in the sward, so some parts of it won’t be getting a cut until the end of the year. At the moment it’s a patchwork of sticks marking where I think the orchids are, but it will take time to see if they are what I think they are. (I’ll try and remember to report back).
I like this slightly wild approach and have never been a fan of having a cricket pitch type lawn that is just grass and only grass without any other type of plant being allowed a place. I’m much happier to let things be, even if potentially the neighbours might not appreciate my “rewilding” attempts.
We’re also waiting for the veg garden to get going. Admittedly we started late this year, but there are some hopeful signs with veg seeds starting to break through the soil.
Here’s hoping that this is Spring proper and not another clever natural deception.
Thanks for reading.