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Just last week I saw this photo on my friend’s Facebook page:
I responded immediately:
This looked like an alien landscape to me. Flowers blooming? Bright colors!? BEES!? I almost felt the need to shield my eyes. Realizing that this was a current photo from Delaware–not some exotic locale–brought home to me how far from spring we still are here. Spring in Maine is just a bit more gritty and subtle than in other places. While others are celebrating new growth and warmer temperatures, we’re still entrenched in winter. Occasional wild temperature swings launch us into hope and then plunge us back down into cold bitter despair. This past week it was in the 40s on Monday and on Tuesday, the wind chill at recess was about 3˚ F. Truth.
It’s hard to be positive or to regard family and friend’s photos of new growth and blossoms as anything other than a slap in the face. Will spring ever arrive?
Then, on Friday, while driving to school, I noticed a couple of orange signs blossoming along the road. Oh, my inner optimist reasserted itself, Frost heave! This is looking promising! For the uninitiated, road upheaval, or frost heave, is a sure sign of changing temperatures and spring coming. (and spine jostling and car damage…but remember, I’m channeling my inner optimist here!)
Not too many miles later, I saw a pile of sad smashed porcupine alongside the road. While I truly did mourn the porcupine’s passing, I couldn’t help but think, “Oh, a porcupine! I haven’t seen one in ages. Spring must be coming!” (I really did think this!)
Also, the sun is getting noticeably warmer and the gritty snowy ice banks are melting. If you look just right, there’s even some beauty to be found there.
On a sweeter note, I’ve also seen sap buckets sprouting on the maple trees along our road. Soon the playground will show signs of spring as well — in fact, it thawed beautifully just the other day!
Before you know it, thin pale stalks of legs and delicate ankles will be visible, too! We’ll be arguing with kids about the need to wear a coat (Oh–wait–we’re already doing that!) and explaining that while temps in the 40s are worth celebrating, they don’t necessitate shorts wearing.
Signs of spring in Maine may be just a bit more gritty and subtle than in other places, but things are definitely looking up, if you just know where to look. Spring is definitely on its way!
Nix the comfort zone 
I love Maine! Your long winters are truly worth the wait of what summer brings to your beautiful state! Once those signs of spring start appearing, there’s no turning back. Keep enjoying all those subtle reminders that winter is slowly (or maybe quickly) retreating.
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I love living in Maine as well, and winter brings its own pleasure. March has fewer of them though! lol
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It is amazing the signs of spring you might find when you truly look and you captured many. I haven’t spotted the flowers pushing through yet but with a predicted 60-degree day this week, I remain hopeful.
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We’re hoping to top 50˚ on Tuesday–60˚ sounds amazing! Either way, I imagine most of our snow will be gone soon.
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You have captured all my reactions to our winter & other people’s springs. We, too, are having the wildly swinging temperatures & sap buckets on the maple. I’m looking for beauty in the freeze/thaw of the ice. We don’t have frost heave (a new one for me!), but the snow removal trucks just came through on Friday and cleared the piles of snow from our narrow street & I realized they probably won’t be back until next year. Spring will come… but I’m still jealous of other people’s flower pictures!
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That crocus picture was literally shocking to me! I’m so immersed in my own world right now, that it seems inconceivable others aren’t seeing the same scenery. It was a good wake up call to look around a little bit. The snow removal trucks sound quite interesting. I only see those in the parking lots around here. Here’s hoping you don’t see them again!
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OMG–I LOVE that playground photo! I can’t even imagine living in a place that is so cold. We are always reminding our students to grab a jacket when temps dip below the 60’s–and i don’t think they know about long pants! I’m still trying to wrap my mind around “Frost Heave.”
Stay optimistic! Spring will make its way to you soon!
Kim
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Thanks, Kim. I’m partial to that photo as well. We’re supposed to hit the 50s this week multiple times! Woot!
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Oh what a perfect fun-filled picture you paint for a non-American who has no idea (and no desire to experience) those wicked winters! We are heading towards autumn but it’s hot, hot, hot in Australia. I will continue to live vicariously through your photos of all that snow and ice and be thankful to have no part in it!
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There are certainly parts of winter that I could do without, but mostly I love having all four seasons. I can’t imagine dealing with the heat and the not-so-sweet critters in warmer areas 🙂 Thanks for visiting snowy Maine with me 🙂
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