A fresh season: March's in #phenology

Puddles collect at the edges of country roads. Snow melt collects in the ditches. Time to clean out and close up the bluebird houses in anticipation of this year's occupants. Evidence remains that we're still closer to Winter's cold than Spring's warmth: leaf buds on the oak overhanging the deck are closed Winter-tight.

female bluebird

Photo by J. Harrington

It's March. Women's History Month. Sometime this month:

• waterfowl return
• maple sap flows
• snow flakes become rain drops
• skunk cabbage emerges
• red-winged blackbirds return
• robins return
• March Equinox (vernal Northern hemisphere) occurs (March 20)

first full moon in March

Photo by J. Harrington

This is the month of the snow crust moon (bebookwaadaagame-giizis(oog)) according to the Anishnaabe. March's first full moon is tonight. A blue moon on March 31 will be broken snowshoe moon (iskigamizige-giizis(oog)).

Dear March - Come in - (1320)

Emily Dickinson, 1830 - 1886

Dear March - Come in - 
How glad I am -
I hoped for you before -
Put down your Hat - 
You must have walked -
How out of Breath you are - 
Dear March, how are you, and the Rest -
Did you leave Nature well - 
Oh March, Come right upstairs with me -
I have so much to tell -

I got your Letter, and the Birds - 
The Maples never knew that you were coming -
I declare - how Red their Faces grew -         
But March, forgive me - 
And all those Hills you left for me to Hue - 
There was no Purple suitable - 
You took it all with you -         
  
Who knocks? That April -
Lock the Door -
I will not be pursued -
He stayed away a Year to call 
When I am occupied -         
But trifles look so trivial 
As soon as you have come
 
That blame is just as dear as Praise 
And Praise as mere as Blame -

********************************************
Thanks for visiting. Come again when you can.
Please be kind to each other while you can.