Spring has sprung and the world has begun anew. I think now I finally understand why they
call this time of year, spring…because nothing makes us want to “spring” out of
our chairs and head outdoors more than some good weather, and all of the
surrounding beauty that comes along with it.
Here on the west coast, the trees are blooming; flowers are blooming
giving us vibrant and bold colors everywhere we can see. Bright yellow, pink, white, and purple blooms
line the streets and walkways where trees and shrubs are planted. The hills and fields too are covered in
green, as “Mother Nature” announces the start to another season.
We recently had some warm days here in our area of the
world, which of course could only mean one thing, a trip to my local “home and
garden” store was in order. No sooner
had I gotten anywhere near the store did I realize that apparently everyone in
my zip code had the same idea! A filled
parking lot greeted my arrival which made for a nice spring day hike from my distant
parking stall to the store’s entrance.
Walking in it seemed as if every department was filled with shoppers
filling their baskets with everything from paint cans, to ceiling fans,
plumbing supplies to area rugs. As I
moved thru the store, trying to avoid the rolling, flatbed shopping carts that
were anchored down with lumber, nails, drywall and spackle, I see where the
real “action” is taking place. Where
else but in the “lawn and garden” section of the store? Holy smokes…the hustle and bustle would have
rivaled the trading floor on Wall Street!
People and carts carrying flowers, plants, potting soil, water hoses,
sprinklers, shovels and just about any other item you can name that is used in
gardening. Shoppers young and old ready
to tackle the outdoor chores. And why
not? Spring is here and there’s no going
back now. Ah yes, there are weeds to be
pulled, gardens to be raised, flowers to be planted, trees to be pruned and
lawns to be mowed.
I do realize that are lots
of people who think that Christmas is the “most wonderful time of the year” or
so the song goes, but if you’re the outdoorsy, ready to dig in the dirt type of
person, you probably think the first days of spring in the yard might just be a
little more wonderful. It certainly is
better for you. Unlike the cold and dark
days of December, you get to be outside in the sunshine, soaking up the Vitamin
D. Not to mention all the exercise you get pushing the wheel barrel and lawn
mower around. And if you have had to dig
a lot of big holes to plant some trees, you can’t say that doesn’t add some
“cardio” to your work out too. Another
reason spring is better than Christmas…once you’re done opening gifts and
eating really rich food and consuming too much alcohol, the party’s over. But not with spring planting in your own
garden and yard. The outdoors is the
gift that keeps on giving! You get
beautiful flowers that you get to cut and bring in the house or give to
neighbors. And going out to the garden to pick your own veggies and tomatoes all
summer brings joy to everyone far longer than the old stale fruitcake. Anyway call me a Christmas “kill joy”, but if
you ask me, the outdoors fun of the garden runs rings around the usual holiday
festivities. Although I do have to admit that there
aren’t any springtime garden planting carols to be sung by bands of roving
gardeners going door to door. Oh well, I
guess the really good song writers are just too busy…in the garden of
course.
As always, thanks for reading, and I’ll see you in the
groves.
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