We are in what I refer to as weather purgatory.  It’s something you only experience when you live in a location where there are four distinct seasons – and the transitions between seasons.  The ugliest of those transitions is the one between winter and spring.

The Vernal Equinox may be in March but up here in northern Maine, spring hasn’t really gained a foothold yet. Weather “purgatory” is that time when the snow hasn’t quite finished melting leaving dirty white patches here and there looking like pimples on the ground.  The leafless trees stand stark against the sky and the lawns are a dreary brown.

Don’t despair.  Here and there you can see signs of new life:

First Crocus

I love the fact that here in northern Maine we get to experience all four seasons.  Each season has its own special beauty and it’s great to be able to enjoy each one. This last winter was beautifully sunny, in fact it was probably more sunny than all of last spring, summer and fall!

I love watching the snow fall quiet as a whisper.  I love seeing the top layer of blown snow drifting in layers looking just like sand in the desert.  I love the way the sun makes the snow sparkle like its been strewn with diamonds.

I also love the awakening that comes with spring.  As the snow gradually disappears, white is replaced with the color of spring flowers and apple blossoms.  The lilac bushes fill the air with fragrance while tulips, crocuses, daff-a-down-dillys (my favorite name for daffodils), and all manner of other flowers, shrubs and trees sway in the soft spring breeze.  There is the smell of clean earth ready to be planted with tomatoes, lettuce, spinach, carrots…

In the past couple of weeks, the daytime temperatures have increased gradually melting the snow and revealing more ground.  I find myself going from window to window to see how much more ground is visible each day.  I’m checking the ground to see how frozen it still is – the more protected places close to the foundation never really froze and there are new shoots pushing their noses up out of the ground.

I find myself conflicted… As much as I am looking forward to spring, I’m sad to see the snow melting. Somewhere in between the cold whiteness of winter and the fragrant colors of spring there is the muddy slush of dirty melting snow.  That’s where we are right now as I say goodbye to winter and look forward to spring.