Connie's Corner

Spring Things

Spring means lots of different things, first and foremost to me it means warm weather, not just this sporadic stuff we get here in Florida in the winter. I can almost see the grass turning green. Yes, the grass here in north central Florida does turn brown in the winter from our numerous frosts. Many of my neighbors have already cut their grass for the first time this year although mine has not sufficiently beckoned me yet. Only the weeds are growing so far.

First is the warmth, then the pollen, pine pollen. I have thirteen huge pines in my back yard. Someone on FB said it doesn't snow in Florida, it pollens...so true. My back porch and everything in it gets a fine yellowish green film practically overnight. I sweep it, blow it, and ultimately hose it out. It usually lasts around two weeks but seems much longer. Somehow even my front porch gets its layer but not as bad. I wonder if anyone has ever written a song or poem about pollen. I don't recall ever reading one.

Yesterday, after sweeping the front porch, and rehanging plants from their "winter" migration indoors, I decided to prepare and hang the hummingbird feeder. My hummingbirds disappeared sometime in November, heading farther south I guess. After putting it back in its old place, I looked up on the web for info on their return   to my neck of the woods and March seems to be the month. Hopefully, I will see some soon.

I tend to stay cooped up in the house during winter so spring means getting outside for me, feeling the warmth of the sunshine on these old bones. I get back to my daily walks and start preparing a spot for some tomatoes and peppers and salad greens as long as they will grow. The increasing heat shortens their growing period here.

Then there is springing the clocks forward last Sunday morning. I barely get used to the sky lightening at 6 o'clock when suddenly I have to wait until 7. It is a little disorienting for a few days, but I do enjoy the later sunset which means I can drive later. I hate to drive after dark so there is one reward at least.

until next time...c