Signs of spring 2012 style: episode 1

One of the things that I truly love about living in a northern climate are the stark contrasts of the seasons.  And although spring may slowly bloom into summer and summer slowly fade into fall, the changes from fall to winter and from winter to spring are full of contrast.  That is especially true of the living things that seemingly are out and about one day and gone the next and then reappear with the same suddenness.  Oh sure there have been signs that spring is approaching for several weeks.  I now am greeted by the faint light of approaching dawn when I head out to take care of the chickens in the morning.  The chickens are responding to the increasing light by laying more eggs.  The Canada geese are gathering in bigger and bigger flocks and their honking is becoming more and more boisterous.  The resident house sparrows and starlings and cardinals have been dutifully singing in the morning light as they start to stake out territories.   The cardinal's song is the most striking of all the winter residents that live around the farm house and it makes me smile to hear the distinctive song once again. 

And while these signs are all well and good, it is the appearances that I look forward to the most.  Last Monday, I took the dogs on our usual stomp through the brush in search of rabbits and exercise for the dogs.  As I crossed the culvert over the creek, I spied a splash of color that did not belong to winter.  Most often I find that it is a piece of plastic or other man made object, but there at my feet was a dandelion starting to bloom.  The continuation of our mild winter surely has confused a dandelion into blooming in February.  And then midweek, I stepped outside in the early morning light and coming from across the road was the distinct "peeeeent" sound of a woodcock.  I hope those woodcocks that decided to bravely come north in February have found a place to hide out because today the cold and wind and snow have returned.  The woodcock's arrival is only a couple weeks earlier than normal, but once again it is a testament to the mild winter we have been having.

While the change takes place outside, us farmers who are tucked safe and warm in our houses wait for our time to head outside.  I've been going through the hatchery web site trying to decide what kind of chicks I will be ordering this year.  Mike has been going through his seed catalogs trying to decide what else he is going to plant this year.  Plans for this project and that project are being discussed.  Before we know it, we too will make our appearance outside.