This month has been a wild ride weather-wise. From the deepest snowfall of the winter near the beginning of the month, to the coldest weeks of the season mid-February and then directly into spring thaw and early rains in a matter of several days. The melting snowpiles in the field above us, now yield significant runoff, causing deep craters to form in the driveway.
In mid-February, the stock tank heater was all that was keeping the pond from freezing solid. The fish and plants are safe and quite inactive during these cold spells. Not to worry.
Marsh marigold is the first of the plants to respond to the warming sun, nourishing rains and spring breezes. Already, there are new leaves and buds pushing above the surface of the pond. If I can keep the elk from eating it, there will soon be yellow blossoms emerging from the pond. The buds are swelling visibly on the lilacs. Soon there will be a flush of blossoms and the sound of returning migrant birds in the surrounding trees.
It is just a bit awe inspiring to consider how quickly these changes have progressed over the past few days. I am looking forward to being able to dig a more permanent structure for my pond creatures and plants and getting more of the hardscaping completed in the main garden. Not to mention new and returning growth.
