First Signs of Spring (Portland: houses, to buy, live)

[elston]

Where ever I have lived, I have been aware of the earliest signs of spring--those subtle changes in the flora and fauna that herald the turning of the wheel and the coming of spring. When winter has you in its grasp, it helps to look ahead.

Some are: the faintest rosey glow in the twigs and upper branches of the swamp maples, baby kitten willow catkins, chick-a-dee call changing to its two note whistle, activity around the sugar houses, appearance of star of bethleham, jonquil and crocus shoots in the boarder garden on the protected southern side of the house where the snow is first to melt; new frost heaves in the roads....

What are the signs of spring where you are in Maine. When do they first appear?

[Maine Writer]

I have a viburnum in the backyard. Their buds are selling. They're always the first to start. Chickadees are occasionally making their spring calls. Crows and ravens are chasing each other through the sky now.

We've had ice covered trees for five days now and it's snowing. It will change over to sleet and freezing rain later.

[island mermaid]

I know I won't spell it right however, I'll try. For me it was seeing the forsythias(?). The smell of spring... mud does have a certain nice aroma. Don't laugh, it's true! I liked it.

[WhoFanMe]

Originally Posted by elston

Where ever I have lived, I have been aware of the earliest signs of spring--those subtle changes in the flora and fauna that herald the turning of the wheel and the coming of spring. When winter has you in its grasp, it helps to look ahead.

Some are: the faintest rosey glow in the twigs and upper branches of the swamp maples, baby kitten willow catkins, chick-a-dee call changing to its two note whistle, activity around the sugar houses, appearance of star of bethleham, jonquil and crocus shoots in the boarder garden on the protected southern side of the house where the snow is first to melt; new frost heaves in the roads....

What are the signs of spring where you are in Maine. When do they first appear?

Not today! This is the worst driving conditions I've seen this year, I saw at least 3 cars off the road on my 11 mile commute to Portland!

[elston]

Out here in California it took me a year of two to learn that there are real seasons; I saw willow catkins yesterday near a creek that had water in it and mushrooms poking thru the leaves! The camelia tree in my courtyard has flower buds about to open, and the jasmine vine on the back fence is about to explode into white flowers that compete with Maine's lilacs for fragrance and look like a blanket of snow; red tail hawks are circling and beginning to pair up.

Indeed "to everything there is a season and a time for every purpose under heaven."

[Mainer61]

Daffodils and crocuses....mid to end of March usually

[Northern Maine Land Man]

Sap buckets on our sugar maples are the first sign of spring here. This happens with 3 feet of snow in the woods. It's a signal that winter is drawing to a close. Then comes "mud time" which is our fifth season. Even the guides flee and go to giant sportmans shows in places like Harrisburg, PA and Worcester, MA. Another sign is a sudden burst of calls from Connecticut from people wanting to buy land in Maine. There is no snow on their front lawn so they want to come to look. I ask them if they have their own snow shoes of if they need to borrow one of my 5 pairs. This is usually followed by a long pause. - - Snowshoes?

Buds, daffodils, forsythia, crocuses and such come much later.

[ribbets]

Saw my first FROST HEAVE sign yesterday and felt it shortly afterward

[MRVphotog]

When the sap starts flowing! Course, in the last few years many places in NE have had early runs in Dec but we don't count that.

[elston]

Originally Posted by MRVphotog

When the sap starts flowing! Course, in the last few years many places in NE have had early runs in Dec but we don't count that.

There is an old song written in 1837 to celebrate Maple Sugar Season and it starts out;

When you see the vapor pillars lick the forest and the sky,
You may know the days of sugar-making then are drawing nigh.
Frosty nights and sunny days make the maple pulses play
Till congested with their sweetness, they delight to bleed away.

When you see the farmer trudging with his dripping buckets home
You may know the days of sugar-making then have fairly come;
While the fragrant odors pour through the open kitchen door,
How eager children rally, ever loudly calling "more".

Oh bubble bubble bubble bubble bubble goes the pan.
Furnish better music for the season if you can;
See the golden billows; watch their ebb and flow;
Sweetest joys indeed we sugar-makers know.