SPRING HAS SPRUNG

So far, despite the recent destructive rainstorm, spring has made a fine start, a great relief from the cold and wet conditions that often seem to linger later in the year than hoped for.

There’s still a nip in the air, but nighttime temperatures are no longer dipping below freezing in most areas of Maine. We’ve also begun having strings of balmy, sunny days that are good for hiking, picnicking, bicycling and driving with the top down if you happen to have a convertible.

And now is the perfect time for clearing brush and old leaves, sprucing up gardens with new plants or reviving the old, and to starting painting and repairing projects around the house.

Highway and road crews are making repairs and repainting lines, but so far they have been otherwise occupied. The recent storm caught crews by surprise. In some northern areas the heavy rains turned to snow and crews had to bring out the snowplows again. Flooding caused washouts, and many roads were temporarily closed, while others were posted to keep heavy vehicles from doing further damage.

Flooding in Aroostook County also damaged homes and businesses, leading to a federal disaster declaration. Rebuilding structures and lives will take months.

As usual, spring colors start mostly with yellows. Daffodils and jonquils have burst forth, and many forsythia bushes and hedges are already in full bloom. Tree leaves are growing larger each day, and some of the pines got a head start and already show new, lighter-green needles.

It’s the sap that starts the leaves sprouting. In sugar maples, it of course goes for maple syrup. This year, in most places around here, the maple tree sap came up in two rather brief spurts and the volume was less than usual.

Now, if the rains come just often enough to prevent a drought and not continuous or hard enough to cause more mud or flooding, the prospects are good for many more pleasant days and nights until summer arrives with its heat and swarms of summer visitors.