The Season's in Missouri are Slow to Arrive...

The season's in Missouri are slow to arrive and even slower to leave. Time pauses, awaiting a nod from an unseen force, to complete the cycle of nature and move on to the next phase in life. 

In my part of the world, Spring saunters in slowly.  The grayness of Winter refuses to leave for any length of time. Eventually, thunderstorms will roll across the Plains, changing the snow to mud. There will be a flux of rain followed by days of mixed temperatures. Winter hangs on and then eventually bows out giving Spring the free reign she has wanted. 

As soon as the temperatures rise to the 50's or higher, the grass will turn green. It seems to happen almost overnight. The spring leapers or young frogs begin their courting. The night is loud and refreshing with their chorus of songs, after a silent winter. 

The birds welcome Spring. The last month of winter was harsh, snowy and bitter cold for them. Food was hard to find. The bird feeders were a welcome reprieve.

Daffodils, forsythia bushes and dogwood trees erupt bringing life once again to the area.  The yellow and pink shots of color are a welcome addition to the woods and to the lawns. When the dogwood trees bloom it means the crappie fish are biting. Soon it will be time to go fishing. Families begin to plan camping trips. The stores order plants and seeds. Slowly, people and nature throw off the last warm coats of winter. 

Perennials, planted years ago, push their way through the earth to reappear like old friends with  welcomed faces.  It is time for rebirth in nature.  

There will be a few set backs in temperatures as Spring takes over for her season. In May we have a week of cold weather called 'Blackberry Winter.' The blackberry bushes begin to change and produce the berries we enjoy in the summer.  Once that week is over, the trees will explode with leaves. The days will get longer and warmer. By the end of June, Spring will be ready to bow out and leave the next few months to Summer. 

The four seasons take their time to arrive and to leave. Each season brings something new and desirable to the table. The human race is held captive by these four seasons. They rule our world and allow us to play in their world for an allotted amount of time. It is a blessing to be alive and to witness their changes.