PLAYING A WAITING GAME

A BREEZY, WARM AND HAZY MORNING

RED MAPLE FLOWER BUDS ARE STILL CLOSED

LUPINES POPPING UP EARLY

Sunday, 9:45 AM.  52 degrees F, wind SW, brisk. The sky is clear, with considerable haze on the eastern horizon.  The humidity is 63% and the barometer is still falling, now at 29.77," presaging a possible thunderstorm tonight.
   For me, regardless of where we have lived, the truest indicator of spring finally arriving has always been the flowering of the red maple trees (Acer rubrum).  Even if there is a late snow, spring will then not retreat.  So each spring I watch the red maple flowers, waiting for them to bloom.  There is a particular tree on 8th Street that has low branches, the flowers easy to examine.  I looked at them closely this morning.  Real spring won't be here for some time, as the flower buds, although swelling, are still tight.  Perhaps another two weeks.
   That said, the native Lupines (Lupinus perennis) that reside in the wild area on the south side of our lot, are popping up as early as I have seen them do so.  Their compound leaves are so distinctive they cannot be missed.  They usually do not flower until late May, but this year they may be as early as mid-May.
   Right now most everything is still playing a waiting game.