Spring-One is Here!

            John Muir said that California has only  two seasons: Spring, from Nov. to May, and Summer, from June to November.  Coming from Wisconsin and seeing our hillsides sprout with green grass from the first autumn rains, I suppose that’s how it seemed.  I, however, argue that we, especially here in Martinez, have five seasons: Spring-One, from the time of the first almond blossoms in late January to the Equinox, and then Spring-Two from the Equinox to the Solstice, and on with the regular seasons of Summer and Fall. That leaves about 6 weeks of Winter, during the first two weeks of which we are either celebrating the Holidays or recovering from them. During the four weeks left I wait on the sun as the days increase in length ever so slowly, gradually picking up speed as we near Ground Hog Day. With the longer days comes an awakening. I watch for the swell of the buds on the Almond Trees, catch the premature and tentative hatch of blooms on the Evergreen Pears, and sense the promise of the first hint of grayish yellow on the Acacias. My neighbor’s deep orange Quince laughs at the rain. Soon there’s a pink explosion of ornamental cherry trees, daffodils are gossiping along walk-ways, the Acacias hang heavy and gravid, and the chaos of Spring, which Robin Williams calls nature’s way of saying’ “Let’s party!” has begun.

            In the depth of our Winter, which Easterners and Mid-Westerners would laugh at, I find it a time to turn introspective, to weigh my life, my plans, my purpose, and to take a deep breath and relax.  The hubbub of the Holidays is over. It’s dark at 5 o’clock and the long evening spread before me holds a quiet space for looking inward that I try not to avoid.

Now with the burst of the blossoms, the time of reverie is over and, like the bees, it’s time to get busy with plans and preparations for the year ahead.  I’m a backpacking guide in Yosemite all summer running 2-3 trips every weekend (Th. through Sunday) and it takes February through May to prepare so that the short summer season runs only as crazy as it does. To keep my sanity, I try to compress the 5 seasons into each and every day so there’s time to wake up, time to party, time to work and grow, time to harvest, and time for quiet reflection. We need all five seasons… everyday.