Is it Spring Yet?

My family and I have just returned from our annual ski trip to Beaver Creek, Colorado.

We’ve done this trip for the last ten or so years, since my older daughter was around five. We travel at this time every year because it’s spring break for both of my daughters. Most families we know, having had it with winter, are going to places like Turks and Caicos, Mexico or some other fabulous beach spot. But we always forgo the beach in favor of spring skiing. I love to ski but I hate to be cold. Obviously, this is not a match made in heaven. A few years ago, we thought we would try going at Christmas time and it was 9 degrees below zero. If suffices to say, I didn’t get out on the slopes. Hence, the spring break ski trip.

I always leave for the excursion with mixed emotions.

Most years I struggle with the thought of being away from home for a week. The struggle lies in the fact that usually at this time of year, the snow, if there is any left, is minimal and my fingers are itching to be outside and start cleaning up. There is a smell and the look of spring in the air, things are starting to push up from the ground and the Forsythia buds are swollen and about ready to break, which to me signals, it’s time to prune! And if you know anything about me, you know that I love to prune. I’m torn because I’m dying to get to work after the long winter but I am also wanting to get the skiing in for the year when it’s warmer than 9 degrees below zero.

I can clearly remember last year before we left, I had just started pruning.

However, weather wise, this was a very different year. We’ve had a warm winter with just a couple of light snows. That was until the Tuesday before we left for Colorado when we had a big storm, snow coming down for hours. This year, for the first time in many, I didn’t mind leaving because it was clear there would be no pruning for at least a few weeks so I wouldn’t be missing anything.

When we landed at the Eagle Airport still dressed in our winter clothes, we were happily surprised by the bright sun and the springlike weather.

Off came our coats; out came our sunglasses.

We enjoyed six days of sunshine, blue skies with big white puffy clouds and 50 to 60 degree weather.

We skied (even me) without numerous layers and enjoyed the lift rides up into the heavenly tops of the mountains. We applied our sunscreen and away we went.

When we returned to Newark Airport last week, we were once again surprised by the blast of cold air when we walked outside to find a taxi home.

Weren’t we just walking around town in a light sweater? Now, I was fishing through the suitcases for hats and gloves. 

Looking out of my office window as I write this post, I do see bright sun and blue skies but I also see a pretty thick blanket of snow still on the ground. Happily, I am seeing it from the warmth of my house.

So this year, I don’t feel like I missed anything.

While I still have the itch to get out there and start pruning, I am pleased to say I was able to enjoy skiing all the more because I knew that even if I were home, I wouldn’t have been able to be in the garden. Next week is supposed to marked by lots of rain and temperatures in the 40s and 50s. That should clear out the snow and maybe, just maybe, it will be time to begin my work outdoors.

Can spring be far behind? 

I certainly hope not. Now that I am back and unpacked, I am ready to start pruning my roses. If only the weather were ready…