1080. Come, gentle Spring!  Ethereal Mildness!  Come. ~James Thomson 

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O the green things growing, the green things growing,
The faint sweet smell of the green things growing!
I should like to live, whether I smile or grieve,
Just to watch the happy life of my green things growing.
~Dinah Maria Mulock Craik

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But, but, but, it’s just way to early for spring’s “ethereal madness” and the green things growing. The day after my knee surgery at the end of February last year, it snowed and then three days later when I came home from the hospital it snowed again. Our last average freeze date isn’t until March 15th, and there have been times when a hard, late freeze or an ice/snow event have occurred even as late as April 1st. So what’s up with this crazy weather? I love springtime and I’m always thrilled when it arrives, but this is just too soon for it to come. Thank goodness I got started earlier than usual on cleaning up and weeding the beds because we virtually had no winter to speak of. Also I’d already gotten the roses pruned and ready to go. But then since roses are supposed to be fed when they are leafed out and most of mine are almost leafed out already, what do I do now? If I go ahead and feed them, they’ll really get going, and a late freeze could kill all the new growth and set them way back. I’m also concerned about the ducks that winter at our neighborhood pond since I noticed last week that they’ve left already. It’s too early for that too. They could end up getting their little derriere’s frozen off by returning too soon to their northern homes because Old Man Winter and Jack Frost may have high-tailed it out of Texas, but that doesn’t mean they’ve closed up shop elsewhere.

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Come, fill the Cup, and in the Fire of Spring
The Winter Garment of Repentance fling:
The Bird of Time has but a little way
To fly–and Lo! the Bird is on the Wing.
~Omar Khayyám

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Spring’s cup is indeed being filled regardless of the date and time, and it’s fire has begun to fling off winter’s garments. As well the bird is on the wing. I know this because I’ve been watching them for at least a week or two refurbishing birdhouses or feathering nests. So it looks like I’m going to need to pray for their sake and for sake of all the green things growing that winter doesn’t come back for a last hurrah!

See! The winter is past… ~Excerpt from Song of Songs 2:11  ✝

20 thoughts on “1080. Come, gentle Spring!  Ethereal Mildness!  Come. ~James Thomson ”

  3. Oooooo you are getting a jump on things out there in Texas—-we still look like the dead of winter—but I have notice a few forsythias trying their hand at making a debut as well as the iris bulbs I’ve planted braving the cold—today I will finally get outside to actually weed—I’m so excited 🙂

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    • I hope you had a fabulous day outside. Our weather is crazy! If were the end of March this is what I’d expect. It’s actually a bit worrisome. I love forsythia and wish I had room for one. Love, N 😊❤️

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  4. Beautiful beautiful pictures, Natalie. I hope I am not in your position because I really would not know what to do. It’s been such a mild winter yet, the threat of frost still is not over. I really hope the best for you and your gardens!!! ❤

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    • Oh my! It was 90 here yesterday which is way too early for that. We are due for a bit of a cool down but I don’t think we see any snow now! Good luck with your new garden plot. I’ve been planting in some new places here. 😊❤️

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