Spring is here – in all its glory and clamor

Ahhhh, yes – no doubt about it! The sights, sounds and smells of spring in the country are definitely upon us once again. It appeared early this year and there's been an explosion of colors, a bouquet of fragrances and an orchestra of sounds that are so typical this time of year – both harmonius and chaotic. Mother Nature provides the stars of this show which feature the voices of her chorus – crickets, frogs, quail, geese, mourning doves, mocking birds, jays and more. Combine that with the sounds of human-generated activity from mowers, blowers, tractors, chainsaws and weedeaters and the result is a blended cacophony that confirms it's once again springtime in the country. Seasoned country dwellers know the routine – spring is the time to haul out their equipment – gas it up, grease it up, new string in the weedeater, sharpen the blade in the mower, mix up the gas/oil mixture for the weedeater, charge batteries for all battery-operated tools, air up the tires, mix up the weed killer, locate the fertilizer, spread the weed n' feed, spray fruit trees for pests, freshen up flower pots with new flowers, prune the trees, test the irrigation system for leaks, etc., etc. It's a familiar routine to we country lovers. Spring is always the most demanding time when new growth on everything is jet-propelled and demands daily maintenance to stay ahead of it. Easier said than done – the weeds and native grasses always seem to win. Things start to slow as the weather heats up, only to be followed by yet another wave of native growth. I used to think there were color phases in the spring growth – a wave of white, then a wave of yellow, then a wave of pink, followed by a wave of lavender. But this year, the colors of nature seem to appear all at once, creating an amazing rainbow of hues seemingly competing for top prize in nature's beauty contest. Once we get a handle on the initial spring explosion of native grasses and weeds, things become more routine – weekly mowing of lawns as evidenced by the chorus of engines around the neighborhood added to occasional touch-ups in the flower beds. And, of course, we always have to keep an eye on the annoying invasives – the persistent star thistle, Scotch broom, crabgrass, blackberry brambles, etc. The cycles repeat each year, but we country dwellers are ready with our machinery and motor-driven ammunition to wage the battle. I've often thought how silly it is that each property has basically all the same equipment – wouldn't it be great if there was one central neighborhood warehouse of equipment we could all share – a co-op of sorts? I don't think it would put The Home Depot out of business but it would certainly be more cost-effective for country dwellers. Alas, we do covet our equipment, and there seems to be an unspoken competition as to who has what new "toy" (shades of young kids comparing their new Tonka toys). It's always interesting watching the seasons repeat each year and, as I get older, the cycles seem to come so much faster. In any case, living in the country gives one a firsthand exposure to Mother Nature's repeating routines. The reward for all the demands of country living are plentiful. The smell of fresh-mown grass combined with the scent of spring's award winners like lavender, lilac, honeysuckle and daphne which perfume the air. The peaceful sense of satisfaction as we sit on our porch in the evening, feet up, taking in the last rays of golden sun as its sets over the ridge, allowing time for reflection on the reasons you moved to the country but, more than that, the reasons you've stayed.