Dogwood Winter

Dogwood: Cornus florida

My friend Mary warns me every year not to get used to the warmer temperatures that occur during the first week or so of April. She reminds me that as the Dogwoods bloom, we’ll have a cold snap. Mary is right.

Mary is always right. But I am an optimist. I always hope and believe that winter is truly over. I get out the spring clothes, throw my sweatshirts in the storage bin, and long for sandals. I dream and plan of all things we’ll soon be planting and eating. I can almost taste the sun-warmed strawberries. What I don’t do well is wait. Patience and I are not close friends.

This year our Dogwood Winter has lasted for more than a week. We have had hard freezes just as everything was blooming. Wednesday we got nearly 2 inches of rain. I know our apples, peaches, quince, and grapes are gone. Most of the flowering landscape is also in terrible shape. I hope (and I pray) that the roses and mint will come back as the temperatures moderate.

Woefully waiting for a return to warmth,
KMH