I love winter. I really do. I look forward to it. I think I'm kind of weird... I don't enjoy fall very much, mostly it just gets me excited for the first snowfall in which I mark (in my own personal calendar) the first day of winter. I love the hot chocolate, the scarfs, boots and jackets. I love the magic in the air when the snow falls. I love how peaceful the city gets. It's one of those tranquil things that I really enjoy. While co-workers complain about the commute to work, the wet shoes and the bitter cold air, I repose myself and smile. I watch the glitter-like snowflakes fall and listen to the silence as it blankets the ground. But this year, I am really excited for spring to come.
Spring holds a very special place in my heart, for many reasons. My big sisters birthday, my mom's birthday, then my little sisters birthday, and now Warren's birthday. My mom was born on Good Friday, which I always thought was really neat, once I learned what Good Friday was. But mostly, my fondness of spring comes from my grandma's house.
My granddad who died a couple years before I was born, was a remarkable gardener, or so I am told. My grandma kept the garden going after his passing. Her yard was full of the most incredible flowers and vegetables.
I remember helping her in the garden almost everyday when I was a mere pre-schooler. She had a 6 foot fence that went all the way around her back yard. The whole west facing fence was covered by lilac trees. From one corner to the other corner, nothing but big bushy green leaves with light purple, fragrant lilacs. These bushes made great hiding places when the rain started or fall or when playing hide and seek.
In the southwest corner was the vegetable garden, grape vines covered the corner fence, and rows of little trenches were dug, where tomatoes, cucumbers and zucchini called home. And beetles. There were always big gross black beetles crawling around in the dirt. Up against her house were rows of bright fuchsia peonies, and where the occasional black widow would be found. And lots of bees! These, I'm told, were granddad's favorite flowers.
In the middle of the south facing fence were tall prickly bushes that looked almost like holly leaves, but the little berries were blue. I remember picking the berries and using them as chalk on the sidewalk. Grandma didn't like that very much, it looked like blood and always stained the sidewalk! Next to the prickly bushes were giant orange oriental poppies. Who also always had a flock of bees nearby. Next to the poppies were oodles of (my new garden favorites) lilies. Every color imaginable. Being a 4 year old, these babies were taller than I was. I remember having to bend them over so I could smell them.
Next to the lilies were tall purple bearded iris'. Along the east facing fence were rose bush after rose bush. Mostly red and pink. Up against the other side of the house, were the monstrous white moon flowers or morning glories which only bloomed in the morning. I could only pick them and smell them before preschool. In the front of her house, was a long flower bed along the walk up from the drive way to the front door, where bright yellow day lilies grew. In the gap between the garage and the front window was a big Banzai tree, shaped into a bunch of small balls. Under the banzai tree were tiny little white flowers that grew more like a moss, and often crept onto the sidewalk. Under the tree on the left side of the yard was tulip central. Dark purple ones were always pretty, but the reds and whites were gorgeous, too.
In the southwest corner was the vegetable garden, grape vines covered the corner fence, and rows of little trenches were dug, where tomatoes, cucumbers and zucchini called home. And beetles. There were always big gross black beetles crawling around in the dirt. Up against her house were rows of bright fuchsia peonies, and where the occasional black widow would be found. And lots of bees! These, I'm told, were granddad's favorite flowers.
In the middle of the south facing fence were tall prickly bushes that looked almost like holly leaves, but the little berries were blue. I remember picking the berries and using them as chalk on the sidewalk. Grandma didn't like that very much, it looked like blood and always stained the sidewalk! Next to the prickly bushes were giant orange oriental poppies. Who also always had a flock of bees nearby. Next to the poppies were oodles of (my new garden favorites) lilies. Every color imaginable. Being a 4 year old, these babies were taller than I was. I remember having to bend them over so I could smell them.
Next to the lilies were tall purple bearded iris'. Along the east facing fence were rose bush after rose bush. Mostly red and pink. Up against the other side of the house, were the monstrous white moon flowers or morning glories which only bloomed in the morning. I could only pick them and smell them before preschool. In the front of her house, was a long flower bed along the walk up from the drive way to the front door, where bright yellow day lilies grew. In the gap between the garage and the front window was a big Banzai tree, shaped into a bunch of small balls. Under the banzai tree were tiny little white flowers that grew more like a moss, and often crept onto the sidewalk. Under the tree on the left side of the yard was tulip central. Dark purple ones were always pretty, but the reds and whites were gorgeous, too.
I especially remember picking all the flowers, putting them in a vase of water and bringing them to granddad's grave. All these flowers remind me so much of my grandma and in some ways, my granddad who I never had the chance to meet. These memories are very special to me.
When we were looking at houses last year, I didn't think having a yard would be much of a deal breaker. Obviously a nice yard is an added bonus, but when we walked into what is now our home, and I saw the beautiful yard, and the lilac tree... I was hooked. Since we didn't move in until the middle of June, it was a little late to start planting things. Not to mention, I was a little preoccupied with painting and unpacking and getting settled to think too much about the exterior.
So this year, I have big plans. In the fall my sister-in-law Hayley helped me plant over 100 tulip and iris bulbs (ha, I had high hopes) in my yard. And this spring, I'm putting in raspberries and peonies, more lilies, as well as planting a pizza garden. Every morning I look out my back window at the lilac tree, hoping one of these days it will be slightly less brown and more green. I hope to recreate the memories I had growing up. Perhaps growing my grandma's favorite flowers will some how connect us. Maybe my kids will remember our yard just as much as I do from when I was little. I'm very anxious to see which bulbs come up first, and which ones didn't get eaten by squirrels. I can't wait to pick them and bring them inside. I can't wait to work in the yard and feel the warmth of the sun on my back and seeing lady bugs. I'm really excited for spring!
In the mean time however, I'll just have to be patient. Spring doesn't officially arrive until the end of April in Calgary, and I know there are several more snow storms just waiting to come. I'll keep shoveling the sidewalk, and putting on my boots. I don't want to wish my life away waiting for spring to finally get here... but man, I wish it would hurry!
