Spring in Pacific Northwest

I think it’s official...it’s Spring!!!

Of course, with the trees and flowers blooming in February, some would say Spring has been here for quite a while.

I don't want to get into the great global-warming debate, but our winters are changing. In the mid-70's, I remember winters with some snow and lots of rain. Late 70's and early 80's brought ice storms to theWillamette Valley, covering everything in thick sheets of ice and crippling our ability to go to work and school. Once the ice melted, the days and nights were wet and rainy well into June.

But in recent years we’ve had several weeks of warm weather in February allowing us Oregonians to run around with coats unbuttoned. It’s almost as if Mother Nature gives us a slight reprieve from all the grey skies and winter storms. Then Spring hits with more storms and seemingly endless rain.

But the rain is good for the grasses, shrubs, trees and flowers. (As long as they don't drown!)

And we’ve had flowers this year! Lots and lots of flowers...in February! In the Pacific Northwest!!!

In February the daffodils began to bloom...much earlier than I’ve ever seen. I missed the crocus blooms. Seems like the ground was cold and wet, then we had daffodils. And by late February the non-native trees, such as the ornamental cherry trees, erupted in beautiful pale pink blossoms and tiny leaf buds gave way to reddish leaves. It was wild! It was beautiful and March followed with tulips and and more trees budding and blooming with Spring color. Even the rhododendrons in the woods behind my home bloomed early...

More later!