Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Finally, it is officially Spring!

I realize many parts of the country have been experiencing above average temperatures and unseasonably beautiful weather for weeks, we here in the Pacific Northwest have not. There has been more snow in the forecast the last few weeks than all of winter. It’s been cold and rainy…very rainy. So it is with some measure of glee that we get to officially enter the magical season of springtime, if only because that’s what the calendar says.

The following pictures were taken at our corner gas station last Saturday. In Oregon you don’t pump your own gas, yes it’s a little silly, but wonderful too especially on a cold rainy night. As I waited for the tank to fill a small collection of plants against the window wall of the convenience store part of the station caught my eye. Normally I have a negative reaction to a rag tag collection of houseplants shoved up against a window, I find it rather depressing. Something about this group seemed different and I had to go investigate.
The station was little more than a cash office up until a couple of years ago. They remodeled, added the convenience store, and now it has a sleek corporate feel. The plants didn’t seem to fit in. This is the best part…
Seeds had been planted in cut-down paper cups, and they were so happy in the bright sun of the window. The day had been predicted to be stormy and grey, but the sun was shining instead. I don’t know one seedling from the next but something about these told me they might be peppers. What do you think? I asked the man behind the counter but he had no idea, I’d have to ask “the lady” when she was back on Monday (I think the “the lady” is his wife).
There were also a couple of very tall Epiphyllum (I think)?

And this beauty in the corner…

Discovering this little slice of plant goodness makes me want to frequent this gas station above all others!

Back to the subject of Spring…for most gardeners (at least those of us in the north) we come alive at this time of the year. The lengthening days and warming soil is our call to action…so many things to see and do, no time to be wasted. I started to wonder how many gardeners would claim this as their favorite season. I’m always surprised when I hear gardeners say Fall is their favorite, if it were followed directly by Spring then I wouldn’t mind it, it’s just the fact that Winter comes next that I can’t get over. Summer though; Summer is what it’s all about for me…doors and windows open, warm evenings, the garden at its happiest. Of course if I lived in Austin, TX, I'm sure I would feel different.

So I’m asking, what’s your favorite season? Please comment and let me know, even better give me the break down. What’s number 1? 2, 3 and 4? Here is my list to get things started, not that you didn’t already know…

#1 Summer!
#2 Spring
#3 Fall
#4 Winter

30 comments:

  1. My list is exactly the opposite of yours.

    1. Winter!

    2. Fall

    3. Spring

    4. Summer

    Though Fall and Spring are so close together that they may as well be tied.

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  2. When I saw the seedlings, my first thought were peppers :-)

    Is that blooming beauty some sort of begonia?

    My favorite seasons:

    Spring
    Fall
    Summer
    Winter

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    1. Gerard I have to admit I haven't a clue what that plant is!

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  3. Just goes to show you never know where you'll find plant goodness!

    Hmmmm...seasons.

    1. Fall
    2. Spring
    3. Summer
    4. Winter

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    Replies
    1. Well, at least we agree about the winter! Andrew keeps threatening to make me experience a week of Nebraska summer. I don't think I could take it.

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  4. My first thought was "peppers" too. I'm adding bar graphs to my list to show how much I like each season:

    Spring: ***********************
    Fall: ***********
    Summer: *********
    Winter: **

    Really though, there should be more than 4 choices though, since late spring is way better than early spring, and late summer is better than late fall, etc. :-)

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    Replies
    1. Oh clever with the bar graphs! And yes agree about there being more than four seasons. I see you're a shades of grey person too!

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  5. Same order as you Loree, it's just a shame that Scottish summers are so short, grrr! ;)

    Winter is my least favourite. It's not the weather that gets me down, it's the lack of daylight - we do not receive much in the way of daylight here in mid-winter.

    Spring is my second favourite. Sometimes it can take a very long time to arrive though.

    Autumn isn't a bad season, but like you again, I know what comes next and I DON'T LIKE IT! Ha, ha!

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    Replies
    1. Good point about the daylight, I know the grey here has a lot to do with my dislike of winter.

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  6. One can always count on "the ladies" to humanize their surroundings.

    I am going to be really sappy and say whatever season it is is my favorite: spring for its freshness and sense of renewal; summer for dinners outdoors, swimming, picnics; fall, it's the light! the light!; winter hibernating by the fire and reading lots of books without the pull of the garden.

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    Replies
    1. I love your answer and I don't think it's sappy! I wish I could feel the same.

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  7. That's a nice collection of plants. Such a big sunny window is too nice to pass up.

    My list is typically Texan - 3,2,4,1

    Fall is the best because it's so refreshing after the last blast of heat from late summer. Winters are usually quite nice here. I gardened almost all season last winter.

    Spring is nice and summer is okay until we get to August.

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    Replies
    1. I have no doubt I would feel entirely different about summer if I lived in Texas.

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  8. Happy spring to you...consider this payback for your mild but cool winters and abundant rain. Though I have major sun requirements, sun is rarely lacking in Abq. For me -
    1 - fall *******
    2 - spring ******
    3 - summer mornings *****
    4 - winter (& summer days) **

    I guess there is good and bad in each, but 1-3 are so close, it's hard for me to split them for me!

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    Replies
    1. Abundant rain! OMG...you have no idea, this month has been insane. I don't think it is ever going to end.

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  9. You and I agree, but I am hard pressed to rate spring above fall in some aspects, particularly temperature and garden access time. But I love the promise of new growth and warmth ahead, so I think my anticipation factor just pushes spring ahead of fall...at least today.

    1 - summer (especially August and September!)
    2 - spring
    3 - fall
    4 - winter (ugh)

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    Replies
    1. Yes you are totally right about the fall weather being better than spring...but the excitement and anticipation just can't be beat, in my book.

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  10. 1 - Spring
    2- Summer
    3- Fall
    4 - Winter

    Like Ricki, I really tend to love whatever season I'm in, even winter (rich food and movies and fleece pants, hooray!) but for me spring is like Friday night. There's an excitement and anticipation and you still have the whole weekend (or summer) just waiting for you.

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    Replies
    1. Your Friday night comparison is spot on!

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  11. Spring
    Fall
    Winter
    Summer

    Something about the beginnings and endings of seasons. So much color. But summers in Kansas can (and usually are) be brutal. Being a cycle commuter makes the two extremes less then pleasant.

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    Replies
    1. Commuting by bike in the winter? That's admirable!

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  12. 1. Spring
    2. Fall
    3. Summer
    4. Winter

    I am an avid gardener and would normally say summer first. However, 2 summers ago I found out that I had developed an allergy to the sun! WHAT?! It's such a cruel, sick joke. So I try as I can to enjoy the sun in the spring and when the summer hits, load up on SPF 50+ and sneak in some gardening.
    Zone 6

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  13. sandy lawrenceMarch 20, 2012

    1.Spring (because I'm a spring bulb and spring wildflower freak)
    2.Winter (I can usually garden all winter in TX - exception: winter 2011!)
    3.Fall
    4.Summer (too long, too hot, too dry in TX - no one here will forget 2011. ugh)

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  14. My list would read exactly like yours. I love the summer but am a little concerned about this summer's temperatures if we continue on the trend we are on. We've had record breaking high temps (mid 80's) for the last week and usually this time of year 40's and 50's are the norm!

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    Replies
    1. I can understand your concern. Our temps continue to be cold, I'm kind of jealous.

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  15. I'm catching up on my blog reading and this looks fun:

    Summer
    Fall and Spring are tied
    Winter

    If spring wasn't a blur with work, it would likely beat out fall, but summer will always be the best.

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  16. I. Need. That. Begonia.

    My seasons are the same as yours weather-wise but botanically speaking I go spring, summer, winter, fall.

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