In my daily travels on Monday, I don’t remember seeing so many happy people. It was a balmy 60 degrees and snow was quickly disappearing. Under the pile of snow in my own garden, two fully blooming white hellebores emerged. Nature is nothing if she isn’t forgiving. Also, there is a carpet of pale lavender crocuses. These are the species variety also known as snow crocus. They probably are considered an heirloom, since they date back to the 1700’s. I planted them about 30 years ago — a package of 12 or so bulbs. Over the years, they have spread all over the garden and have escaped into the lawn. I often wonder if some critter is responsible for moving them around, as it seems impossible for them to get so far away from the original parents. Also, snowdrops are blooming everywhere the snow has melted.
My friend, Sharlee, called with the Chappy report. She saw a honeybee on her snow drops. Her neighbor has a hive. We shared amazement that they made it through such a hard winter. It is, in fact, harder on the hives survival when it’s mild. They come out when it’s 47 degrees. If that happens in January, there is no forage for them and since they are awake they might deplete their stored honey.
My Witch Hazel has just a measly dozen of flowers. Nevertheless, I admired it. If you happen up to North Tisbury, be sure to notice the large one at Middletown Nursery. I noticed a fall arrangement that had been buried under probably feet of snow. As soon as it emerged the crows attacked the spent pumpkin. It and its seeds were strewn all over the sidewalk. I stopped feeding wild birds after the avian flu scare last fall. It makes me sad for the poor things, but I do have a flock of chickens. I’m fond of them and want to keep them safe.
One thing I really look forward to in late winter is cutting boatloads of forsythia branches. They usually bloom within a week in the house. This year it seems somewhat impossible. A giant tree, covered in bittersweet vine fell on the bush. There are still some promising looking twigs, but I need some sort of hover craft to get through all the tree debris.
I know I complain yearly about the time change, but why should this year be any different? I hate it when it’s dark in the morning, since I’m an early riser. This is the night people stealing from the morning people. Here it is after seven on Tuesday night and I’m loathe to hit the sofa until it gets dark. Any day now, I’ll get used to it and find some outdoor activity that makes me happy.
What doesn’t make me happy is yet another stupid war. While I’m not a fan of Iran, the apparent lack of planning is alarming, at best. After 20 years and loss of American life in Afghanistan, the Taliban is still in charge. Did we win? I was in utero when the first and thankfully only nuclear bombs were dropped on Japan. My entire life has been under the threat of a repeat. To keep it from happening, we keep building more?
Because Trump hates everything Obama, the deal 44 made with the Iranians was scrapped. Why would they ever trust us again? The new leader, son of the former Supreme Leader, is even more right wing and best friends with the Revolutionary Guard. Sen. William Fulbright’s take on the Vietnam War in 1966 was as follows: “Power confuses itself with virtue and tends also to take itself for omnipotence…. We are still acting like Boy Scouts dragging reluctant old ladies across the street they do not want to cross.”
This article appears in March 13, 2026.