It's that time of year when Midwesterners, enticed outdoors by mild, bright evenings, scour their yards for signs of spring. I am one of those who take part in this annual vigil.
Last evening, with the temperature at 64 F, I discovered many hopeful signs. The lilacs, honeysuckle, elderberries and wild cherries are all beginning to leaf out and the latter plants, transplanted from our Colorado farm, have blossoms for the first time. The magnolias are about to pop, the crocuses are reaching their peak, the grass is greening and, as discussed yesterday, clumps of wild green onion adorn the lawn.
The chorus of birdsong, past the robin-cardinal stage, is now more varied and intense, with the homesick tune of white-throated sparrows ringing through the neighborhood. Within another week, the tide of spring will bring fragrance and color back to the landscape, as violets, dandelions, daffodils, magnolias and hyacinths make their appearance. Winter may throw a few more jabs but spring has won the battle.
