Spring is on its way!

Tulip bulbs emerging from a long cold period

Every year, around this time, it starts in our house. My mother sits down with a stack of seed catalogs, and here current seed inventory, and begins planning for the season. Not a space is left empty on our dining room table, as seed packets are sorted and inventoried in addition to multiple catalogs opened comparing varieties and prices. In a normal season, this would be the dead of winter, or just past it at least. But this tradition was always a hopeful sign of warmer weather and greener pastures.

In the next few weeks, we will regularly receive packages in the mail of different seeds from different companies. As the inventory of seeds gathers, the seeds are sown in small trays with potting soil. The trays are filled and the seeds sown on the same dining room table. In case it hasn't been made clear, our dining room table is a central hub for all activity.

Once the seeds are sown, the trays are put into large clear bags (to keep the moisture in). In the olden days, the bags were laid in our living room, as that was a largely unused space at the time. This was before we put up our new greenhouse, and it just made sense. Over the following week, as the weather started to warm, the seemingly empty soil was invaded by tiny green shoots, the first signs of life! This was always encouraging that winter was on its way out.

While she may not realize it, this was a secretly exciting part of growing up. It was a sign that soon the snow would be gone, and more outside time would be upon us. Growing up, this also meant little league baseball, baling hay, and summertime was close at hand. And all the anticipation started with a tiny green shoot.

Now, my question to you, the readers, as the "dead of winter" is behind us, what do you look for as a sign that springtime is coming?