“Spring, with her golden suns and silver rain, Is with us once again.” Henry Timrod After a cold and icy winter spring is finally upon us. The first warm days brought on the little species crocuses and snowdrops. I seem to have fewer crocuses now after the chipmunks and squirrels… Continue reading
“Lion-like March cometh in, hoarse, with tempestuous breath.” William Dean Howells March always seems to me to be the best and the worst part of winter. Best because it means we are almost done with it and worst because looking out the window there is still snow and ice. The… Continue reading
“The truth about February is that she is the worst month of the year.” A.A. Milne During a recent cold snap I was reading a certain jaded English essayist. He suggested a party game for the entertainment of his house guests. Guests were to compile anonymous lists of their most… Continue reading
“…..chill November’s surly blast Made fields and forests bare.” Robert Burns The cold and bleakness of November is a bit easier to face knowing that the garlic has been planted and the potatoes, such as they are, have been dug and put away for winter. I’m grateful that I don’t… Continue reading
October gave a party; The leaves by hundreds came: The ashes, oaks, and maples, And those of every name. – George Cooper – The season of mists and mellow fruitfulness is upon us. I’m looking forward to some relaxing days in the garden to putter around and do some clean… Continue reading
…. I have seen Full many a chill September. Oliver Wendell Holmes I’m hoping that the weather gods bring us some cooler weather in September. The supposedly short northern summer seemed endless this year. Even the drought summer of 2016 didn’t feel like it went on for as long as… Continue reading
“July is payday.” Bob Thomson in The New Victory Garden This is the time of year when I’m glad I braved the clouds of blackflies in the spring and managed to get the vegetables planted. I have no regrets about cutting back on what I grow. It’s a relief to… Continue reading
“Slower, sweet June, Each step more slow; Linger and loiter as you go.” Julia Harris May It feels like we have skipped spring this year and gone straight to early summer. The poor daffodils didn’t last long in the heat. The tulips, too, were here for too brief a time…. Continue reading
“Come, gentle spring! ethereal mildness! come.” James Thomson What a cold dreary spring we have had this year. I don’t think I have ever seen so much snow and ice or felt so much cold in April. My favourite flowers of early spring, the snowdrops, appeared a couple of weeks… Continue reading
