Sensing spring in the air
Usually, I base my columns on a walk or a hike in a wilderness area. This column was inspired by a walk I took down Needle Street in Sussex Corner.
It is surprising what your mind will wander to sometimes. I noticed how sad the landscape looked and I remembered a thought I had a few years ago when searching for a good spring photo. "Early spring is a hard time of year to take a great picture."
It is true, the melting snow, brown mottled landscape and, often overcast skies make it hard to make anything look good to our winter weary eyes. Luckily, there are other ways that spring touches us. The cool, crisp air allows our other senses to take over and this can be exciting to explore.
As the cool spring air becomes settled in the evening, sounds tend to travel farther and become more distinct to our ears. The returning sounds of spring tickle our lobes as the returning birds float in on the warming breezes. Gurgles, bubbles, and swishing of the thawing rivers and streams seem to flow through the air rather than on the icy rocks making up the river beds.
When the cold air turns warmer, you're sure the rattling and whispering of the branches of the nearby birch trees are telling your secrets to everyone who will listen. Even the sound of the traffic seems different somehow. Maybe people are driving slower to appreciate the rebirth, or maybe they are just trying to avoid all the potholes? However you explain the change, it is still noticeable to your ears if you just stop and listen.
The scents abound and every smell is more evocative with the renewing life that comes with spring. Every adult will flash to his childhood with that first scent of thawing mud gathered in a puddle.
It takes every ounce of adult maturity to resist strutting through the closest one and pick up a pile of mud for a mud pie. The smell of the last wood stove burning the morning chill out of the kitchen lingers longer than normal, as if it is struggling to say good-bye.
The smell of a wood stove is replaced by the distinctive odour of grass and brush fires as people try to give their lawns that head start, hoping to make time move into summer all that much faster.
For some, spring is just another season to endure after the winter blues, and they wish it would pass quickly. Summer may seem to come slow in the Maritimes, especially considering that in British Columbia they are already golfing.
Remember though that spring has the same number of days here as it does in Vancouver. Spring may not be visually appealing to most, but if you take your time and "smell the roses" spring has plenty to offer.
Some night soon, take the time to sit with someone and enjoy the scents and noises of spring. You might be surprised at what you find.
Ben Whalen is an avid backpacker, adventurer, and environmentalist, who loves the natural areas in and around Kings County. If you have a suggestion for an article or would like to join him on a hike contact him at benwhalen@hotmail.com.
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