Signs of Spring

[Terri]

February is really the month that makes me glad to live in the SE USA. I'm not exactly throwing up a cheer in mid-August, when the lakes are shrinking from the oppressive heat and my grass is half dead. :lol:

But February - now that is another story! Still wintertime, and most of the big oaks still have dead leaves clinging to them, and many other trees are still bare. But the jonquils - aka daffodils - decide that this is their time to pop out of the ground, and suddenly - they are everywhere! Bright yellow beauties, growing wild in scattered clusters along the roadside and in the woods. If that doesn't snap you out of the winter doldrums, nothing will.

We took a drive yesterday to a tree nursery and saw tons of them along the way. Since we were getting up into the rolling hills of north Georgia, we could make out the barest hints of color from new leaf buds, which flowed like a muted palate over the hills. It was a balmy mid-60 degrees and the sun was shining - so my official spring fever hit yesterday!

We bought two trees - a type of elm (not the American elm which has suffered from blight for some decades here), and something called a dawn redwood. (Not the giant!) They are both beginning to bud and their bark is gorgeous.

So, today is tree-planting day - what better way to spend Valentine's Day than swinging a pickaxe? :goodvibes:

Any signs of Spring in your area? :D

[ann]

terry,

i got a dawn redwood, about 12 years. Brought it home in my car , and it was about inch in diam.

It is now about 75 feet tall and i can't get my arms around the thing.

so be careful where you plant the thing.

it will be lovely in the late fall, then you will appreciate that time of year as the leafs turn copper.

[Antarctican]

i got a dawn redwood, about 12 years. Brought it home in my car , and it was about inch in diam.

It is now about 75 feet tall and i can't get my arms around the thing.

http://www.photoforum.com/style_emoticons/default/shock.gif
Wow, that is quite the growth rate!!

No such major signs of spring here in Toronto, yet. We had very heavy rain on Thursday which washed away all the snow in the downtown area, revealing brown grass beneath, and it broke up the ice covering the harbour. I'm sure there are a few more snowfalls in store for us, but we're probably 'over the hump' as far as winter goes.

[ann]

oops, typo, that is over 35 not 75. But it is huge , never thought in my lifetime it would get this big . It is considered a "fossil tree " and can get up to 100 feet tall.

[PhotoJet]

Well, there were signs of spring when I hauled Bill off to the Domes on Thursday (since all the plants are indoors). But we shoveled snow from the driveway this morning!
Trust me... no self-loving flower would even think about emerging in February around here. Global warming indeed! :chatty: hahahaha :lol::lol:

Whay do you think I've come down there in the Spring for classes with you & ann???? hahahaha

[Terri]

oops, typo, that is over 35 not 75. But it is huge , never thought in my lifetime it would get this big . It is considered a "fossil tree " and can get up to 100 feet tall.Well, thank goodness, cause I was thinking 75 ft in 12 years was a bit much even for a fast-growing tree! :p Yes, we read the same thing about this being a "fossil" tree that has seen the dinosaurs and Brad got intrigued. We went for one tree and came back with two.

So, we do have a large open area at the end of our driveway that also gets a bit mucky after a lot of rain - supposedly just what this tree type likes, too. He got planted there this afternoon and looks great. We'll take some pictures soon, as things like this are fun to look back on after some years. It will be big, as Ann said they will get to between 70-100 ft!

The elm is a "Bosque" elm, able to take lots of sun and some withstand some drought, so we planted him in an open area we had in the front yard.

Both trees came in 15-gallon containers so they're each about 12-15 ft tall, the elm is a little taller right now. I'm happy to have these additions to my yard.

Jeanette, I do recall how we had a warm spell when you came for the HC class last year and you were the smart one in shorts while we went stomping around the Atlanta Historical area, and I was dying. :lol:

[PhotoJet]

Yeah, butremember how the temp dropped like a thousand degrees the next day! AND... there was even a bit of the 'white stuff' if I recall! :crazy:

I loved that History Center. What a neat place! (Remember the ram??? I just developed his picture.) :sun:

[TammyK]

:hug: Spring!!!

Yes, spring is trying to come out. We are not quite as advanced as you, yet Terri, but I have some blooming Daffs in my yard as of this weekend.
The cedar waxwings are making their annual migratory mess and moving in large numbers, and I've spotted many robins lately. Buds are starting to bulge a bit more- namely the forsythia, tulip magnolia and flowering quince.

:goodvibes: yay!

[Terri]

Another instance of early Spring I meant to mention: we were out walking the dog the other day, late afternoon/early evening, when we heard the strangest sound in the distance - it sounded like the trilling you hear from several doves or pigeons in a group. But all of a sudden, we saw an amazing sight: dozens and dozens of geese flying overhead - not just one or two of the familiar V-shape of geese in flight, but group after group (flock after flock?) all calling to one another and rasing this amazing ruckus. We just stopped walking and watched in awe. It sounded unlike anything I've ever heard, and went on for several minutes till they all eventually vanished from sight.

A rare treat! I've lived in the South for over 20 years and never seen anything like it. :sun:

[Terri]

Yeah, butremember how the temp dropped like a thousand degrees the next day! AND... there was even a bit of the 'white stuff' if I recall! :crazy:

I loved that History Center. What a neat place! (Remember the ram??? I just developed his picture.) :sun:I do remember him - he was huge!! I hope you can scan the picture soon and show it.

[TammyK]

Have you heard any frogs yet??? Forgot to mention that on my way to my car after work Friday I heard the frogs croaking!! :peace:

[Terri]

Have you heard any frogs yet??? Forgot to mention that on my way to my car after work Friday I heard the frogs croaking!! :peace:No - BUT I've not yet been down to the creek by our house where we take Odin sometimes. I've heard them there before in late winter/early spring, and they are LOUD. It's a very cool sound! I should get over there soon, just to check their progress. If you're hearing them your way, they should be waking up down here, too.