Signs of Spring in Springfield

These days, puddles along sidewalks are more common than pedestrians. Rivulets of water run from house gutters, down city drains.
http://www.vermontjournal.com/content/signs-spring-springfield

Signs of Spring in Springfield Submitted by admin on Tue, 03/18/2014 - 4:22pm By ANNE DEMPSEY The Shopper SPRINGFIELD, VT -These days, puddles along sidewalks are more common than pedestrians. Rivulets of water run from house gutters, down city drains. Soon, dirt from this winter’s sanding trucks will be all that is left on our curbs. Fewer fishing shanties sit on the ice at Hoyt’s Landing and the days are getting longer – finally. Birdsong is back. Occasionally, a robin red breast pokes out his chest to the morning sun from a tree’s leafless bough. Our dirt roads have turned slick with mud, full of soft ruts and ice heaves. Slim blades of grass are beginning to show themselves between stone retaining walls and sidewalks. The bold, light-green braid of an iris bulb has shot 3 inches upward, in front of the town hall. The North Springfield warming shelter has announced that it will be closing for the season as of April 15th. While snow has fallen recently and temperatures are often frigid, there is at least the hope of this year’s maple syrup soon drizzling blueberry pancakes or pecan waffles. Rushing Spring along is not an altogether uncommon practice in Springfield. Sap buckets are hanging from ancient maples on one hillside. Mysterious chunks of snow are found sunbathing on quiet side streets. Young people don brightly colored shorts. Some of those heating with wood cross their fingers as the woodpile dwindles, instead of getting their supplier on the phone. The same is true for some who heat with oil. Patience is hard to muster at this time of year. But spring weather is coming. It’s been known to do so every year. Town Meeting Day has come and gone. We’ve had our chance to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day at many area restaurants and church suppers. There are already sales on yellow daffodils and spring clothing. And hard as it is to believe, spring technically begins at 1:14 a.m. on Thursday, March 20. Before you know it, we’ll be spotting dandelion greens everywhere. The crocuses will be up. Children and adults alike will be shedding winter coats and pulling out last year’s sneakers. The Black River’s ice will have washed away. They’ll be people fishing from boats at Hoyt’s Landing. The flower gardens at the Town Hall will be full of buds and blossoms. Before you know it, gardeners will be putting in their first run of lettuce. Wouldn’t it be great if we enjoyed every minute of it? - See more at: http://www.vermontjournal.com/content/signs-spring-springfield#sthash.3M7uf7h5.dpuf