March 2010

The weather has been really fine, warm enough to don our gardening boots. Most of the plants had not thawed out but the tulip, hyacinth and daffodil bulbs had broken through the ground.. Back in fall, YK relived his NS days digging trenches about a foot deep into the hard rocky ground to bury more than 30 bulbs. It took lots of faith and patience then to believe that his efforts would pay off.

clearing the way for tulips

Not so successful were the 4 baby trees we planted at the same time. Now that I know how hard it is to raise a tree, I look at every one with new respect. Our trees had died a slow death because their roots were potbound. We were clueless when we bought them on offer. Their tops were still green and lush. Who would have guessed their roots were hardened from sitting in their pots too long? Trees are like people, do not judge one by its outward appearance.

Too late, but I learned that cutting hard into the rigid roots before transplanting might force new roots to grow. We lugged the dead trees back for a refund since there was a one-year warranty on them. These gardening greenhorns are grateful for such first class after sales service.. After that, we bought new trees to try again, bigger ones for good measure, to make up for lost time. If only, we could buy green fingers too!

trees to try again.

Life is more than digging and planting. YK wanted to go snowshoeing but we waited till Victor came home for his one-week spring break. He would rather attack his mountain of schoolwork but we dragged him to Mt Rainier instead. Together with a party of more than twenty others, they set off with the Park Ranger for a guided hike in the mountains. Snow shoes were needed to trek through the snow and the traditional ones look just like tennis rackets. Snow was falling and it was a two-hour workout in the cold. YK enjoyed it so much he declared he was doing it again next year. I was recovering from a cold and was the official ‘bag-sitter’ but I did not mind. Just being there to feast on the beauty of God’s creation and be gripped by his greatness and power was good enough.

snowshoeing

Mt Rainier

winterscape

icicles on car

‘Adjust your clock for next Sunday’ – this announcement probably was repeated in every church on the first Sunday of March.   Of course we forgot all about it by the second Saturday night but  I did wake up on Sunday morning with a start.   We had lost an hour while asleep and we had better hurry so that we would be on time for worship.  Daylight savings and vernal equinox marked the arrival of spring.  Goodbye winter, hello spring!