First Signs

It's Starting

In sheltered spots

Heat radiates

Shoots poke from the ground

It's coming

Snow still covers

Most of the ground

But mud is emerging

The smell of spring

It's coming

My eyes search  out each tiny sign

No robin yet

But the cardinals have begun

their springtime songs

It's coming

A winter's worth of dirt

Still lingers in the snowbanks

Some see only crud

I see signs of spring

It's coming

Humble Beginnings

Humble Beginnings, originally uploaded by susanvg.

My garden is slowly coming to life. A variety of shoots have pushed their way to the surface with promises of flowers. It is hard to believe these humble beginnings will lead to a bushy growth of bleeding hearts. Slowly shoots unfurl, with leafy beginnings. They need to grow quickly to complete their job of flowering so they can begin again next year.

Signs of Spring

Signs of Spring, originally uploaded by susanvg.

March is fickle. One day she sends warm sunbeams our way, the next snowflakes. These hardy shoots soak up the sun then huddle under a new snowy blanket. I feast my eyes on them when I can, but they are in my neighbour's yard. The front of my house faces north, so my garden waits patiently to be revealed. The back garden is surrounded by bushes and trees so it, too, takes time to escape winter's embrace. But the signs are there - spring is coming.