However, I can’t say, “spring has sprung” yet.

Bog

April 4, 2011

Our spring is starting.  However, I can’t say, “spring has sprung” yet.

First off, on the last day of March, during one of our little hikes in the woods in back – called Crutcher’s Bench, one of the foothills of Mt. Hood – we spotted our first trilliums of the season.  One trillium was by itself right in the middle of a little path we created last year and, then we spotted a wonderful collection of three trilliums a little closer to home.  Of course, Janine posted these sightings on Facebook right away besting our neighbor’s FB reports by one day.

April 1^st brought the nicest day we’ve had since some time last year.  60+ degrees and blue skies was the April fool treat the weather gods and goddesses gave us.  During the walks we could see just how healthy the moss, ferns, Oregon grape, and oxalis are.  The next day, Saturday, was filled with wet snow and wind.  I’m sure the mountain got another foot of snow, Portland got some rain, and our rainforest got a lot of glop.  Actually it was rather fun since it didn’t pile up and hinder us getting around.  Sunday was overcast, cool, but dry.  Today, Monday is cold and rain, rain, rain. We look longingly at the naked deck furniture.  Just where is that spring?

Nonetheless, I’ve made the trip to the garden center on Sunday full of hope.  Picked up several heirloom tomato plants that I’ll have to repot and keep inside for, at least, a month before I can transition them to harsher conditions.  I also got one new hose and some spray nozzles.  Soon the faucet covers will come off (it’s called procrastination at this point) and the four outside faucets and hoses will all be set up to use when spring actually comes.  I put the regular tires in the truck bed and will be going to our local tire store to have the studded tires switched out.  During the next try spell (day) I’ll take the chains off the trusty Kubota tractor.  By tax day or earlier, I’ll be planting potato starts (funny name since the starts are really the ends of organic potatoes that we didn’t get around to cooking) and maybe seeds of radishes, fava beans and parsnips.

Of course all this nice spring weather talk ignores the potential impact of radiation from Japan.  Authorities mention the impact will be minor, if at all.  Less mainstream news sources suggest otherwise.  Perhaps we need to get our hands on a Geiger counter.  I wonder if my rhubarb, which of course is already up J, will be redder this year.  The garlic, which was left in the ground over winter, is also up a good 4 or 5 inches.  I’m wonder how their anti-oxidant properties will be affected by the “blue plume”

http://enenews.com/fukushima-forecast-radioactive-particles-concentrated-northwest-april-6-video  Just another day, another season, another forecast, another foolish April.