Spring buds May / spring buds March

Vermont May 5, in front of a witch-windowed barn / New York City, March 11, 2023 backed by a drab office building

Winter is long in Vermont, two (Is it possible?) months behind New York City, where I am now. The prediction for tomorrow in Vermont is a foot or so of snow on top of mud-rutted roads that will have frozen into invisible pits of driving doom. Signs of spring are tender and few: Some birds have tentatively returned; some very early flowers will be buried in wet white. But Vermont-hardy, they will likely survive. Some people will worry about the sap run; others about skiing. Everyone will worry about heating costs.

Here in the city, we may have a dusting mixed with chill rain that will decorate the emerging daffodils. But it will be only days before warmth returns and cherry blossoms gloat into bloom.