How Can It Be Spring If We Never Had Winter?

Since the damage from our freak October snowstorm is still evident, you can understand my reluctance to embrace the ridiculously eager profusion of crocuses, daffodils, tulips and hellebores blooming far earlier than I ever remember.  I do remember an equally freak late snowstorm in 1980 or so that socked in the entire East Coast around April 2nd, so it is possible that Mother Nature has one more nasty trick in store for us.

But the earth was a couple of degrees colder back than, so these can't possibly all be mistaken...?

Clump of Crocuses... Crocci?

Tree Peony blossoms clasped as hands in silent prayer to the Spring Sun

 

Chinodoxa peeking through last year's mulch

Hellebores nodding in approval to 65 degree days

There are also some other unmistakable -- and undeniable -- signs of spring.  For one, Mr. Mulch is already back!  You may remember last year's post on the significance of that event.  Well, here's the first truckload of Sweet Peet, ready for spreading -- in fact, that's this afternoon's family project.

The first Sweet Peet of Spring!

Equally compelling is the planting of the peas.  As a rule of thumb, we try to get them in the ground by St. Patrick's Day.  But for the past several years, cold wet winters have lingered too long to get even close to that target date.  Not so this year.  On St. Patrick's day --- yesterday -- the peas had been in the ground for almost two weeks!  Unheard of around these parts.  But we're all looking forward to an early harvest.

Peas tucked into their furrows

And we're also anticipating an even earlier harvest of scallions -- from last fall's planting, seen here being kept company by the garlic planted last fall, which is also growing nicely ahead of schedule.
 

Scallions and their bffs, garlic

Of course, since we are such gluttons... er, foodies, there are also some clear culinary signs that Spring really is here.  The shad are running, and soft shelled crabs have shown up in the seafood store.  We are partial to both, and sometimes have a hard time choosing.  Last week, we didn't.  Instead, we paired two crabs with a beautiful set of roe and meuniered them both together. Yum!

Shad Roe and Soft Shelled Crabs getting acquainted

Shad and Roe getting meuniered

This week, however, we were more single-minded, and had a classic Spring meal of simply Roe, Asparagus and Steamed Potatoes.  Since Shad Roe is only available for a couple of weeks in the spring, it really does inspire gorging... it can't be helped.  Although even we couldn't finish last night's dinner.  I'm thinking of using the leftovers tossed with pasta, a little garlic, and wine.  What could be bad?!

Roe, Asparagus, Potatoes... doesn't get any better than this!

So on balance, I'm going to adopt an optimistic point of view.  Spring is here early.  Mulch is here early.  I wonder if the nursery has any really cool plants... early?!  Hmmm... I think I'll head over there and check it out!