Rain, Snow, Sun, Green

 

 

Mid-March, and the morning 3/4 moon in the budding branches.  Spring forward! More light in the evenings.

Meanwhile,  there is snow and flooding in California. A Nor'easter in the northeast. Here, by the shores of Lake Michigan, where they dyed the Chicago river green for the St. Patrick's Day Parade, there are clouds and blue sky,   and snow that melts in the afternoon.

The ground is soft, already the smell of mud,  already buds on the branches, already the first brave spring flowers.

 I wonder, is St. Patrick's Day really a celebration of returning green?

This year, the vivid greens are a welcome sight--maybe because we haven't had so much snow this year, and mostly overcast days. This winter has been more grays and browns, not so much clear blue sky and bright sun on snow.  We long for colors and light.

But Spring is coming. The March equinox is on March 20.  Amid all the uncertainty of this world, plagues and wars, politics, and bills and taxes, Spring is coming, sure as sunrise and the changing moon.

The First Full Moon of Spring

 

 It's been kind of undecided around here lately. Sun in the morning, clouds in the afternoon, or clouds in the morning, sun in the afternoon. Some people wearing shorts, others in winter parkas. Some with combinations of both!  And while astronomical spring begins on March 20,  meteorological spring began on March 1. 

 And now, the  nights of March 6 and 7 bring the March full moon.  It could be the last full moon of astronomical winter, or the first full moon of meteorological spring.   

It is also known as the Worm Moon, and it has other  names---Sugar Moon, Crows Come Back Moon, and the Lenten Moon,  names evocative of spring.

The Old Farmer's Almanac has more information about the names of the March Moon. You can read more here. 

Yes, the Worm Moon is a good name.   Now is the soft ground, the smell of mud and the robins returning.

We have been so fortunate here. The snowstorm of a few days ago missed us. The worst of the snow/rain mix was east and south, a snow globe in Valparaiso!  And tornadoes in Indiana and Ohio.

There was so much uncertainty about the storm---where, when, how much snow. So much depends on the storm track, the surface temperature and the snow bands.  

Was this the last storm of winter?

The robins are back, and the sparrows who are with us all winter are chirping from the rooftops.

Tonight and tomorrow night, the moon will be full,  rising over the trees with fat buds on the branches.