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OpinionSUNDAY NIGHT Minnesotaís fifth season is way too longSUNDAY NIGHT by MaryHelen Swanson, editor There may be five, even as many as six. The one Iím concerned about at present is that long, cold, damp period between winter and spring. We might call it ìsprinter.î Whatever we call it, itís the season we canít seem to shake off right now. Iíll admit we had a wonderful winter; I loved January and February; March not so much. But now we appear to be caught in a time warp between the cold and warm seasons. Everything natural is confused. The plants which are usually tall and green by mid-April, about to burst forth into bloom, are hiding under the surface of the earth wondering if they should poke their noses out. The birds, who came back several weeks ago, have been scrounging in feeders, and at the foot of feeders, for leftovers. Robins have been forced to eat suet and seeds. Their spring songs are shrill, perhaps because under their feathery attire they are downright cold. I havenít seen any bird nesting yet. Buds have appeared and disappeared on trees. We donít know what effect this strange season will have on them. Looking for other signs of spring? Youíll have to search far and wide. True, there are miniature waterfalls trickling from melting snow banks, and tiny rivers cascading down steep driveways. The geese are honking overhead, but theyíre circling over still-frozen lakes. Weíve set our clocks ahead once again, thatís got to count for something. And let us not forget the mud. What other season can you walk on the top of the earth in the morning and get stuck in it in the afternoon? Just when I was about to go crazy from the monotony of this seemingly endless in-between season, I spotted something in the lower pasture that made me smile. Pussy willows. These perpetual soft, gray buds suddenly appeared on the bleak horizon as if by magic. They are the one blessing of this dreary season. Perhaps there is hope for spring after all. ©ECM Post Review |