The grand old oak stands with her arms reaching upward to the sky, bare of leaves like a lady in waiting. The snow and winds have left her void of her colorful clothing, but she stands tall and proud with her limbs gently blowing in the breeze. She has weathered many winters and knows this season is only that. Soon she will be covered with the lush green new growth that accompanies spring.

The warm days in our area have felt like spring is already here when in actuality it will officially take place on March 20th. The vernal equinox marks the moment the sun crosses the celestial equator. This is the imaginary line in the sky above the Earth’s equator, from south to north, and it happens on March 19, 20, or 21 each year in the Northern Hemisphere.

Most meteorologists will argue that spring begins weeks before on March 1st, but I suppose the official day truly isn’t of much consequence.  My walking buddy had on shorts this morning and by the time our walk ended, I was wishing I had opted for shorts too. That’s our weather in the south; it’s almost hard to believe that a couple of weeks ago we were enjoying that beautiful snow!

Winnie is resting peacefully by my side. Occasionally she stretches her long sleek body and lets out a yawn. I have learned that a nice, long walk before I begin writing helps her, and she hasn’t jumped on top of my computer at all today. Just as I mentioned her she lifted her head and looked at me with those beautiful brown eyes as if to ask me if I could possibly hurry it up.

Any time is playtime for Winnie, and she loves her toys. She has healed up very well from her broken leg, and I’m so grateful for that. For a bit I was so cautious that I hardly let her run and play, but now she is back to full steam. I do try to be more careful about where her toys land when I toss them because I certainly don’t want any more emergency trips to the veterinarian.

Garden Club had a seed swap this month, and I was inspired to try to start my plants from seeds this year. I have been saving egg cartons for this purpose, and I’m also going to start some in milk jugs. I usually wind up spending a lot of money every year on my annuals so this may work out to be a fun and money saving venture.

Winnie is just about over sitting still. She heard a dog a few yards over, and the way she is barking you would think they were in the house! I’ll let you guys know how I fare with my seed planting, but hopefully it will be a relatively simple undertaking. Sunshine, water and a little love should help my garden grow.