My goodness do I love Spring. That’s the gardener in me of course, the chef in me is cursing the season of very little output. We do however, have small salad greens, Sweet Cicely, Sorrel and herbs like Thyme, Oregano, Cilantro, Lavender, Chive and the mints. While those are all good and well I still ache for more. As my favorite writer put it, it’s Spring Fever.
“It’s spring fever. That is what the name of it is. And when you’ve got it, you want—oh, you don’t quite know what it is you do want, but it just fairly makes your heart ache, you want it so!” – Mark Twain
I can be patient though. History shows my patience is short but the rhythm of Spring is the cure. Spring’s attention span is as spastic as mine. One day you see all the small, thin leaves basking serenely in the sun, lazing the day away. The next day they’ve doubled in size and seem to stretch, straining skyward before your eyes.
I often miss the action but the consolation prize is the shock and awe of what has happened overnight. Rhubarb taller than I am, an Asparagus forest, Snow Peas’ wound in a complicated, winding dance. It is absolutely astounding.
After the initial grind of nonstop action in the beginning of Spring this momentary pause while we wait and watch is relaxing and enticing. Utterly mesmerizing to watch. So much potential stretched out unseen beneath the surface, pushing through the soil to find sustenance while they send their surfaces towards the boiling beacon of warmth that accompanies them for twelve hours a day.
Every rain shower I welcome, the thought of it soaking deep into the earth reaching the spindly life support of our plants is comforting. We maintain, we watch, we enjoy the beauty while each plant opens up before our lives. The slowest yet most awe inspiring fireworks show. Pops of color appear before our eyes and turn their faces skyward. Each bright spark of white bud or flower we know will burst forth then wither. But we don’t despair, in it’s place will come the best part of all.
Thanks for sticking with my lyrical rant. The comings and goings of our micro-farm aren’t always graceful, funny, organized or fruitful so it’s important to have a couple moments to pause and just watch around us while the plants do their work. Grab a couple moments and do the same. Observe your plants work. We sometimes take for granted how much effort they put forth and go straight for the berries and other yummy things they produce.
Check out Jim’s account on what happened in the beginning of this Spring here.
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