It's Spring-ing!

by Maggie Sefton



Don't you love this sweet little "volunteer" flower, springing up in the midst of my rock garden?



I know others of you around the country have had your spring weather start already.
 I grew up Back East in Northern Virginia---Arlington, to be precise---a stone's throw across the Potomac from Washington, DC.  Spring would definitely start in early April and sometimes in March.  The gorgeous Cherry Blossoms are often in bloom by late March.


Tiny little purple lilac blossoms have appeared, ready to start growing fat and bloom.


After all, my old hometown area of WashDC/Northern VA is sea level (a couple of hours or so from the Atlantic Ocean, in fact).  Plus that entire MetroDC/Northern VA/Suburban MD is geographically located in the Mid-Atlantic area of the U.S.   But I've lived in Colorado since 1988 and have grown used to our later Springs.   Here in Fort Collins, CO, like Denver and the entire Front Range of the Rockies, we are a little over 5000 feet in altitude in the Rocky Mountain West.  They don't call Denver
the Mile High City for nothing.  Usually I don't start planting in my pots and flower beds until May 15th.


One of my oldest rosebushes---w hich has salmon-colored blossoms every year---is tired of waiting, too 


So----yes, our Springs start later than Springtimes do for those of you Back East and throughout the entire Midwest.  So, you may find my Springtime post and photos boring.  Apologies, folks, but I'm posting these Anticipating Spring photos anyway.    For someone like me whose favorite season is Summer, you can imagine how excited I am at the beginning of Spring.  :)  Spring birdies are chasing each other on the branches, and they're singing what I call their "Spring Songs."  Haven't you noticed the different songs birds sing at the beginning of Spring?  Call me crazy, but I have.  But, then, I've always been a little weird.  Okay. . .a lot weird.  But that's for another post.