February 2nd- in the Pacific Northwest on the west side of the mountains reminds me that spring is around the corner. Yes, we will still get cold temperatures and maybe even snow. The point is that yesterday and today we had that high 50s to 60 degree sunny weather we often get for about a week in February. I was too busy yesterday to get out much. Today I wandered around our little piece of property and found what I expected. Red-flowering currant's dark magenta blossoms swelling and beaked hazelnut catkins emerging. I have noticed on my daily commute that the hazelnut catkins are completely out so I'm wondering why mine are so slow. No matter it brings joy to my heart to see life emerging.
The great surprise was digging around in the bigleaf maple leaves (I was looking for the little irises and little daffodils I planted) and finding a three-inch tall nettle! Okay, I know, they are out in February, I just forgot, momentarily of course. It was a wonderful discovery under all those leaves. Life returns, light returns, green returns. don't forget that if you have pollen allergies, now's the time to start taking nettle- tea, tincture/extract or not as effective capsule form.
I read there were some intense snowstorms in some parts of the country this weekend. Makes me realize that we have it pretty good here. Although, I have it recorded that last year on February 24 we received 24 inches of snow, so we still could be in the weather news. It doesn't matter to most of us here because we know it ends and the birds sing and the green returns so robust it can take your breath away. Welcome to it all!
All nature seems at work. Slugs leave their lair-
The bees are stirring- birds are on the wing-
And winter slumbering in the open air,
Wears on his smiling face a dream of spring!
Samuel Taylor Coleridge
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