Even as much of the country dealt with waves of subfreezing temperatures and heavy snow and ice storms over the past few weeks, I’ve been keeping an eye out for early signs of spring. Friends and relatives in northwest Oregon endured snow, layers of ice and subsequent power outages, but here in the southwest corner of the state (at the lower elevations) we stayed above freezing and avoided all the downed lines and broken limbs.

It’s been a long, dark, troubling winter for all of us, but signs of hope and a brighter future are everywhere. Nature and the outdoors have always filled me with wonder, comfort and peace, as solace and perspective arise from their beauty and the enduring cycle of the seasons. This year I’ve been especially vigilant for those early, subtle signals from Mother Earth that we are turning toward spring. In spite of wetter, cooler weather this month than we’ve had in the past few Februarys, I have found them in abundance.

Some of the first blooms of the new year began budding in January. I have at least three varieties of hellebores (also known as Lenten or Christmas roses), and they all now boast multiple stems of lovely flowers.      Shortly after the hellebores, the crocuses start showing, pushing up through the dead leaves of last autumn, their buttery gold such a bright beacon on still-chilly days.   Only days after the first crocus appeared, I spotted miniature irises bursting open, appearing overnight in all their extravagant glory.       Another delightful miniature, compact little narcissus, has shown itself in a few of the more protected, sunny corners of the garden, providing more spots of color amidst the brown.     The taller daffodils haven’t quite bloomed yet, but their slender, spiky leaves and stalks have grown taller over the past several weeks, the buds fattening now and sure to open soon.   Their tulip brethren are a bit further behind, but unfurling leaves promise future flowers. The heather is in full bloom, and I’m looking forward to the time when it will be covered in humming bees drunk with nectar.

Beyond the flowering plants there are signs of spring as well. Garlic, the bulbs planted in October, thrusts grassy leaves up through the soil in my raised beds, and spinach and lettuce seeds have sprouted. Maple branches sport tight red leaf buds, while the lawn hints it may need its first mowing soon. Of course, the weeds already have a head start on me (sigh); I’ll have to tackle them soon before it becomes a lost cause.

Yes, spring is definitely on its way, and I’ve brought a bit of it indoors to remind me of that promise even on wet, chilly days. An annual tradition of mine, I snip branches from my forsythia bush when the buds have barely a hint of green. Within days of dwelling in the warmth of the house, they burst into bright yellow glory, a bit of spring sunshine. 

— Patty Vanikiotis, associate editor/copy editor