One day after I wrote this story, I found this treasure in my garden!
With the
melting of the snow, comes my first big walk around the garden. I do mean
walking around and not just leaning over my porch railing, which is something I
do every single day. By day I lean over my railing, by night I sit out on the
bench waiting for the free show…night after night. This weekend came the first
stroll!
Now I traipse
around the garden as if I am going on a treasure hunt without a very good map.
The Autumn leaves are still gathered in bunches on the flower beds as I leave
them to become winter homes for eggs and larvae. Did you know the abundant
summer fireflies live inside those leaves? Shh…let’s not wake them up quite
yet.
But there are
signs in the garden. My daffodils are now sprouting up four inches. I have
bunches and bunches of them waiting to share their beauty and color to this old
garden of mine. The crocuses are just pushing up and probably by next week,
their petals will appear amongst the leaves and any new snow that could yet
fall. Let’s move on to the chives which are starting to uncurl in a tiny
pattern. The forsythia bush has small shoots also just begging to bloom and
color the sky golden yellow. In case you missed it, the turkey vultures are
back as well as the red-winged blackbirds. These are the most visible signs of
spring, but I know there are rumblings under the ground. With the rain
forecast, I am sure the earthworms will begin to wiggle their way out of the
ground. Oh, how I love those earthworms as they are nature’s way of tilling our
gardens!
March is such a
lovely month…come in like a lion or go out like a lamb! Here in northeastern
Indiana, it has indeed come in like a lamb, so we know what that means. I have
not seen too many kids outside playing or bike riding yet, but I am sure that
will change as we move into March. But besides earthworms or daffodils, today
is a splendid day for sky viewing. If you were up early this morning, there was
a slim chance to see the full moon amongst the clouds. The moon was at its
fullest at 6:38 this morning. I love the March full moon as it has so many
names from different cultures. We know it best by calling it the Worm Moon. I
always thought this name meant the earthworms would be crawling about (and they
will be), but I made a little discovery this week. Some scholars think the name
came from Captain Jonathan Carver, an early North American explorer, in 1760.
Old stories say he chose the name, Worm Moon, due to beetle larvae from tree
bark. After reading that, I really loved the earthworm story best of all! What
are the other names for this moon? Sugar Moon. Wind Strong Moon. Sore Eyes
Moon. Goose Moon. Crow Comes Back Moon. (That one is my favorite!) Hopefully
you were able to see one of those moons!
Not only was
the moon full this morning, but a lovely phenomenon occurred around the same
time. (I do apologize for not sharing this last week!) From 6:04-7:02 this
morning, if you were watching, you were in for a lovely treat as the moon
turned Blood Red for the total lunar eclipse. I do hope you were able to see
it.
I think March
is a perfectly lovely month even as we navigate a bit of rain and mud. The blue
skies of the weekend were a harbinger of what is to come. I even hung laundry
out on the line! To me, laundry on the
clothesline is a perfect way to welcome back a spring day! Winter isn’t quite over yet, I know. We all
know that one more snowstorm will probably come our way, and that is okay. I
always wonder, “Is this the last snowfall?” We are all ready for March. Bring
on the earthworms, and the wind, and the sky of blue. We welcome you. Who
better to welcome spring than Emily Dickinson!
Dear March—Come in—
How glad I am—
I hoped for you before—
Put down your Hat—
You must have walked—
How out of Breath you are—
Dear March, how are you,
and the Rest—
Did you leave Nature well—
Oh March, Come right
upstairs with me—
I have so much to tell—
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