Sputtering Spring

To my eyes spring appears to be a grand experiment that everybody watches and knows the result but nobody really knows how it’s going to happen. Sure, we have a general idea that eventually it will get warmer and greener; but, like starting up the old lawn mower each season, you don’t ever quite know how many sputtering attempts are needed before it roars into action. For nature this can be some risky business, just ask the cherry trees about last year.

For my part, I’m going to go ahead and say it – I’m a gawker. I love the little battles (and the big ones) that are waged as winter sputters out and spring sputters in. In fact, I’ve been watching a good little sputter war in my front yard. Warmth that has gathered in the sun-pocket on my south-facing wall pushes the snow line out into the yard and encourages a brave tulip plant or two to poke their heads out. The snow/grass battle line moves a good amount on sunny days but is held firm on the colder ones. When it snows the line moves back to the wall and the snow again covers up the grass and brave tulips. Fear not for the tulips though, their warped canoe shaped  leaves appear to be designed to handle a bit of frost or snow. As temps heat up the snow, bits of frost become droplets of water and roll down the leaf to the plant’s base and roots. Amazing to watch this brave plant’s beautiful design carry out its function in the middle of a sputter war!