Spring is Here!


On Wednesday, March 20th, it became official. Spring is really here.
I had just turned in revisions for a book that day, so I wandered around in a sleepy daze, and didn’t think about the season too much. Plus, it was raining, which doesn’t make us Californians feel very springy because rain is our winter weather. But having had a little time to catch up on my sleep, I have definitely noticed evidence of spring here on the California coast!


Now I know many folks are still living with snow, and this post isn’t meant to make you feel even chillier and more wintery than you already are. I hope it will be a reminder that the snow will melt, the flowers will bloom and warm days will be here soon!


In my part of the world, spring means flowers. Many of the plum trees start flowering in February, along with the tulip trees and those first bulbs, like daffodils. In drought ridden Northern California we also love succulent plants, and many of them are flowering right now. Some of the flowers are truly wild looking!


I live a block from Monterey Bay, so spring also means whales. Grey whales, who are migrating up the coast toward their winter feeding grounds. Because the mamas have their babies with them, they stay closer to land as they head north, and we can see them blowing from the shore. Big spouts for the mamas, and little spouts for the babies. It’s lovely to know they’re out there, making that amazing journey. Do you know they migrate about 12,000 miles a year?


And lastly, spring in Northern California means green grass and green hills. I’m sure that sounds odd, I mean, isn’t grass always green? Nope! Not in California! We get green hills in winter and spring, but soon all that grass will turn brown and stay that way until December or January. So I cherish the green in spring because it will fade very, very soon.


Wishing everyone a very happy spring season! And please tell us, what is spring like where you are?




Comments

  1. It was wonderful to see those photos, Claire. The snow has finally disappeared here in Toronto and the first signs are evident....snowdrop flowers on a lawn down the street and we’ve seen robins and redwing blackbirds, the first to migrate back. It’s coming! Happy Spring!

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    1. Snowdrops always seem so romantic to me, the way they show up first and in kind of adverse conditions! I'm glad the birds are coming back, they always make me feel happy. Our blackbirds stay year round and I never tire of hearing their song.

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  2. I love the pictures! Our grass is still brown--sigh, and I have no flowers yet, but the birds continue to give hope.

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    1. Thank you, Liz! I hope things green up and the flowers come out soon. I love seeing birds, we have a bird bath which brings us so many visitors. They do bring hope with them!

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  3. What lovely photos. It's so fun that you see whales migrating. I don't know what it is about them, but seeing whales and dolphins seems like one of those great privileges in life. I'm glad you enjoy them so much! Thanks.

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    1. Thank you, Virginia! You are so right. We've lived here for 7 years and it never, ever gets less exciting to see a whale or dolphin. (Or a sea otter!) It always surprises and delights!

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  4. Well, the rainy--no snow--nor'easter left this morning, and it's breezy out there and a little chilly. I see buds on the maples, so Spring has sprung. Still waiting on my daffodils.

    denise

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    1. Isn't it amazing how different it is around the country? My daffodils are pretty much done now. I don't know why they showed up so early. The ones in the photo belong to a neighbor, hers are lovely right now. Glad to know the maples are getting started, spring is coming!

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  5. I love seeing this new life as spring starts to roll out. Here in Illinois I am just starting to see my tulips and daffodil's and crocus starting to pop their little heads above the earth. This morning I saw four little purple crocus that will bloom soon. Have a fabulous weekend

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    1. I love crocus! The first signs of spring! I had some, but our voracious gophers ate them. Sigh. If your tulips and other bulbs are starting, you'll have flowers soon, I bet! Once they start, they grow pretty fast. Thanks for commenting and have a wonderful weekend, Lori!

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  6. Beautiful! Daffodils are my favorite flowers, and it's so exciting that you can see the whales spout. Here we're having "breakup" which means the snow is receding and the cars are caked with dirt, but it's still welcome because summer is coming. We're gaining almost six minutes a day of light, and it won't be long before the Canada geese are back. My daffodils will bloom in May.

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    1. Wow, such a different climate, right? By May, things will likely be starting to turn brown and dry again in California. Thank goodness for plants like lavender and salvias that don't mind the dry summers as much. I think we may have some of your Canada geese down here! ;-)

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  8. I have flowers and brown grass, but in another month I'll have green grass and mowing will start. Today I've been digging up dandelions. :-)

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    1. Oh gosh, I sympathize! I have dandelions everywhere. I actually think the flowers are pretty but they will prevent everything else from growing if I'm not careful!

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  9. All I seem to have this spring are weeds and more weeds. They're new and different and some close to the ground and hard to dislodge. But loved seeing your photos.

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