Greenery is spreading, bulb plants are blooming and birdsong is intensifying. Yet, March does not always feel like spring in the American Midwest.
Cloudy skies, wet snow, cold rain and soggy terrain are the rule, producing a damp chill across the landscape. Even if one is dressed appropriately, a steady breeze often discourages outdoor exploration. On the other hand, the flooded fields attract migrant waterfowl, the thawing soil draws robins back to our lawns and the copious precipitation restores flow in our stagnant streams and wetlands.
Were we less eager for the warmth and color of spring, we might more easily tolerate the dreary month of March. But its gifts are essential, fueling explosive growth in the months to come.
