Our Spring has finally sprung! #phenology

An observation from this morning’s trip to collect our CSA share this week: the ridgeline trees near the St. Croix river have a softer outline these days. Budburst is tempering the skeletal harshness of winter’s bare branches. On returning home, I was startled this morning to notice the back yard forsythia has burst into bloom. It gets more sun than the forsythias in front of the house, which are beginning to show hints of leaves. Last year’s bloom was earlier and sparser than what we have now.

April 21, 2021 backyard forsythia blossoms

Photo by J. Harrington

The front flower garden has been cleaned out and the front yard is now prepared for seeding tomorrow. There’s more to be done, including adjusting my perspective so that I accept outdoor chores as a way of life in the country and a way to get exercise rather than something that keeps me from going fishing or hunting.

We’re still watching and pondering whether spring this year is going to be compressed or just delayed. Trees will eventually leaf out. Wild flowers will begin to bloom soon, if they haven’t already. Today we saw a small, blue butterfly that has remained unidentified for several years. There was a bumble bee visiting forsythia blossoms as we tractored past. There were also confirmed bluebird sightings yesterday, including one perched on top of the bluebird house.

Final observation for today is a word of warning: Harry the beagle brought the first tick of the year into the house this morning!

Last Spring

By Gottfried Benn
Translated by Michael Hofmann

Fill yourself up with the forsythias

and when the lilacs flower, stir them in too

with your blood and happiness and wretchedness,

the dark ground that seems to come with you.

Sluggish days. All obstacles overcome.

And if you say: ending or beginning, who knows,

then maybe—just maybe—the hours will carry you

into June, when the roses blow.

Notes:

Read the translator's notes on this poem. 

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