The 10 things I love the most about Spring in Virginia

1. Yellow forsythia and daffodils. These two yellow plants are always the first sign of Spring. I wait all winter long through the grays and whites for that first spot of yellow. I've always wanted a forsythia bush ever since we lived in Wisconsin and my neighbor had one. If you haven't lived in a cold climate you just can't imagine how much of a relief it is to see those yellow flowers start to bud. This year, I finally got my forsythia, it's a little thin, but it will grow!

2. Eastern Redbud trees. Chris says they must have been named by a color-blind botonist because as you can see they are purple, not red. The first spring after we moved to our house I had the most wonderful surprise as I was driving down our road that follows the river. It was full of these Redbuds. At the time I didn't know what they were, but quickly found out and was especially pleased to find that we have one on our property. An added bonus is that when the purple buds are gone, heart-shaped leaves form and stay all summer. These trees are especially beautiful in the light of the setting sun. I just can't drive around enough when they are in bloom.

3. Pink Dogwoods. The Dogwood is the Virginia state tree. They bloom shortly after the redbuds and come in both pink and white. I am particularly partial to the pink. I just love the shape of the flower. Unfortunately, although we have several white dogwoods on our property, we do not have any pink ones, so I have to take lots of pictures.

4. Yardwork. Some people don't like work. I am not one of those people. One of my favorite passtimes is pulling weeds. And there is nothing I find more relaxing than a 2-hour spin of uninterupted time on the riding lawnmower. However, Chris feels the same way and usually gets to mow the lawn while I weedeat, garden, turn compost, pull out dead vines, etc. But, as long as I'm in the sun with the fresh spring breeze, I'm happy.

5. Planting annuals. This tradition started when we lived in Wisconsin on a block full of retired couples. All the women spent hours every day tending to their annuals, I remember my neighbors window boxes were always full of red geraniums. That was where I learned the difference between an annual (die off each fall) and a perennial (last from year to year) and most of their names. Each Mother's Day Chris would buy me a bunch of annuals to plant in my hanging planters on the porch and around my hosta beds. Now days, I don't wait around for Mother's Day, I usually buy whatever comes out first. Incidently, those orange pansies are actually from last Fall. They survived a very cold winter.

6. Finding Black Rat Snakes. Most people who know me know that I love snakes. Ever since I was a little girl and my Dad would take us into the hills around Bakersfield to find snakes, (usually gopher snakes, but sometimes we were lucky and found California Kings) I have loved to catch them. I was so excited when we moved to this house and our neighbor told us that the Black snakes usually come out in the spring. I have never been disappointed. Every time I find one, I pick it up, let the kids touch it and then let it go again. There is one snake in particular that I believe I have found several times. He is very calm and the last time I found him he actually came into my hands without me having to pick him up first.

7. Planting Spring Veggies. In this bed I have planted a mix of lettuces, some swiss chard, several rows of spinach, some nasturtium and radishes. The bed with the lattice has sugar snap peas. But, the best surprise of this spring is that my cilantro came back in droves after sitting under the snow for months. Tacos anyone?

8. The smell of honeysuckle vines. There might be no better smell than the sweet aroma of honeysuckle growing in the wild. I will never forget the vacation when we went to The Poconos Mountians in Pennsylvania. The Poconos are supposed to be one of the best honeymoon spots in the East. It was a great vacation, the mountains were pretty and we had a lot of fun together...but when we got home and got out of the car...the honeysuckle was overwhelmingly wonderful and I said outloud, "I love the smell of Virginia!"

9. Rec League Soccer. I know, I can't believe I'm saying this. As I set my camping chair down on the grass at the first practice I said very loudly, "I hate soccer!" And here I am now saying that it's one of my favorite things. The truth is...I changed my mind. I'm still not sure that I love soccer practices, but the games are actually fun. Jared is playing soccer for the first time. Not that he didn't want to earlier, but somehow I never got him signed up in time. I still haven't decided if it's something we will continue to do, but for now...we're having fun. I think it helps that Chris' schedule at work isn't so bad right now so he's made it to every game and we just make a family night out of it.

10. Campfires at our firepit. All winter long we collect our mixed paper that can't be recycled for the purpose of burning it. After the paper has been burned we put the ashes into the compost to be used later on the garden. We think it's an ingenious idea of recycling. But more than that, we just enjoy campfires. I have often said that I think they should bottle the smell of campfires to be used as perfume. Maybe it just brings back memories of camping at Lake Isabella every summer as a child or maybe it's the new memories that we're creating in our family of having smores, telling stories, singing songs and most of all...inviting friends over. Mattson family campfires are not indigenous to the spring alone, but that is when they can start up again after a long winter.

The blooms are falling off the trees, it's almost warm enough to turn on the air conditioning, it's almost time to plant summer vegetables, spring is nearing the end, but it's been great. I won't mourn it's passing, but will hold on to these fleeting moments and look forward to the many springs to come and the sights, sounds, smells, and tastes they bring.