Hey You! Spring is coming!
February 23rd, 2009 Categories: In General
Forget groundhogs, meteorologists or the Farmers’ Almanac. In the Metro D.C. area, there’s only one reliable expert on the start of spring — blooming forsythia. In any other season, one might struggle to find kind words to describe these gangly bushes with their long, unruly stems. “They are … errr… green”. “They are really… hmmm…. drought-resistant”.
But in the final stages of winter, forsythia are pure joy. They don’t just bloom, but they reach up and out as far as they can and scream, “Hey! Spring is coming! Hey You — Yeah You – Spring is COMING!!“ Unlike tulips, they demonstrate absolutely no decorum. Ornamental cherry trees are perfectly coiffed and perfectly elegant. They show restraint and make a timely, gracious entrance. Forsythia roll out of bed with not a branch in place unaware that it’s still too cold to be in bloom. Daffodils are pretty and meek. Forsythia are loud and obnoxiously joyful.
It’s been a long, cold winter, so I’m very excited to have seen my first blooming forsythia bush while at the National Mall on Sunday. In a matter of days, they will be rousing everyone up from their winter slumber. Spring is coming! Spring is coming!


























I don’t think there is there anything prettier than Forsythia in full bloom