The aroma of freshly tilled earth in the spring invigorates the soul. From this dark rich humus that is the decayed remnants of yesteryear springs forth new life. I was enriched with the opportunity to dig a few holes today on this first day of spring in 2008 and it truly was gratifying. It was merely dividing and moving a few plants around in the front and backyard, but the task brings one to their knees. You can't help but smile and lean down and drink in deeply the smell of the thawing earth.
The smell of the earth is a complex odor. It's definitely not a smell one would desire indoors, nor is one admired by many, if any these days. Farmers of the old age would smell and taste their soil to determine what it needed to produce the perfect crop. Sour soils were too acidic and needed some lime (not the fruit, but similar to limestone) added. Bitter soils were too alkaline and one might add some sulfur. All of this of course depended on the crop as differing plants desire a different soil pH. Reminds me it's time to break out the Farmers almanac and schedule my garden plantings soon!!
The birds are one of the earliest signs of spring. I noticed the first robin in my neighborhood back in late February. He was a brave sort. The ground was still frozen solid then. I wonder what he was able to scrounge up for food until now. I bantered back and forth yesterday with two or three male cardinals who have already begun cordoning off their territory in my neighborhood. My children love to listen to them return my calls. The purple finch has returned with his vibrant song, but we still await the house wren and the fleeting glimpse of a goldfinch and ruby throated hummingbird. Ah, but those days will soon come.
The Vernal Equinox marks the day when there is an equal amount of daylight as their is night. For a fleeting moment the earth in our hemisphere is in balance. Here is a very simple and elegant Celtic song that reminds me of spring..
To shoots of grain these water fallThe smell of the earth is a complex odor. It's definitely not a smell one would desire indoors, nor is one admired by many, if any these days. Farmers of the old age would smell and taste their soil to determine what it needed to produce the perfect crop. Sour soils were too acidic and needed some lime (not the fruit, but similar to limestone) added. Bitter soils were too alkaline and one might add some sulfur. All of this of course depended on the crop as differing plants desire a different soil pH. Reminds me it's time to break out the Farmers almanac and schedule my garden plantings soon!!
The birds are one of the earliest signs of spring. I noticed the first robin in my neighborhood back in late February. He was a brave sort. The ground was still frozen solid then. I wonder what he was able to scrounge up for food until now. I bantered back and forth yesterday with two or three male cardinals who have already begun cordoning off their territory in my neighborhood. My children love to listen to them return my calls. The purple finch has returned with his vibrant song, but we still await the house wren and the fleeting glimpse of a goldfinch and ruby throated hummingbird. Ah, but those days will soon come.
The Vernal Equinox marks the day when there is an equal amount of daylight as their is night. For a fleeting moment the earth in our hemisphere is in balance. Here is a very simple and elegant Celtic song that reminds me of spring..
the rain is soft and lovely
perfume of earth through window calls
the woven wood it beckons
I cannot go for many days
for this house holds such blessing
dreams I sang like nightingales
the woven wood it beckons
Written by Tim and Paul Frantzich
Until Next Time
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