When we moved into this house thirteen years ago, we planted this peach tree in our front yard. (We also planted a cherry tree at the side of our house, but alas, it didn't survive until its second year.) Within a couple years, we had a few peaches. I don't love the peaches (though I make a few great cobblers each summer), but I do love watching as the blossoms come out each spring. In fact, I love pretty much everything about spring.
For me, the best thing about spring is its promise. This whole season is the uphill part of the graph. Every day, more green, more light, more warmth. "It's raining a lot," people keep telling me, but through the rain, I see the trees starting to bud out. "I could use the sun," people complain, but we have so much more sun than we did a couple months ago. I get that we sometimes can't see the actual orb behind a cloud, but it stays light until after seven. I can walk the dog in daylight in the morning and again in daylight after dinner. I love that. "It's not 70 yet," people whine, but I'm not wearing a coat over a sweater over a shirt. My toes aren't cold. I don't have gloves on. I understand that spring has its issues, but everything right about summer gets rolling in spring.
At Hotchkiss, spring is a busy time. We have so much going on every day that I can find it difficult to catch my breath, but anybody can handle being busy for a couple months with a summer's rest at the end of spring's sprint.
Sometimes I admit that I need to remind myself that even without a comparison to the dark days of winter behind me and the big open stretch that lies ahead, this season also brings me joy. Each new bud I see, each puddle I step in, each chirp I hear, and each bloom I smell offers me a reminder that I am awake in, alert to, and appreciative of the bounty of this place, this time, this life. Lucky me. Thank you, Spring.
What do you love about spring? Please leave a comment explaining why you enjoy this season.