Spring explodes early this year, with flowering trees and pops with color from the many types of spring bulbs. The daffodils and narcissus expand the size of their groups yearly; while the sun adjusts itself in the heavens at a different angle, the sky appears bluer than last month. All around me, people exclaim, “This is my favorite time of year!” New beginnings seem reasonable. Hope is in the air, and it is warm outside.

Today was extraordinary. The blossoms on the earliest blooming trees are falling like large snowflakes. It is magical, memorable, and mesmerizing. It seems too romantic, too beautiful, too ethereal to be real. These days, people rush to consider whether something is AI or accurate. It honestly seems dreamlike when walking under these pale pink flowered trees. Some have pristine white blooming branches. The wind blows the trees as the petals rain down on whoever happens by. In some spots, a carpet of pink blossoms covers the ground. They clog the storm drains and light upon cars parked nearby. Puffs of warm air float by with the breeze. It feels like someone turned on a heater in the next room—such a welcome change in the weather.

Of course, this is a beautiful time of year, and so welcome. We had a real winter for a few months here in Charlottesville. Therefore, spring feels more intense and dramatic as the memory of ice and snow remains fresh in our minds. Now, air wafts past, moving slightly, no longer a March blast. It is fragrant, and it has different scents from all that blooms. The pollen covers outdoor furniture, cars, street signs, and even us if we stay outside long enough. A thin chartreuse frosting shimmers in a certain light, showing itself as it proclaims SPRING IS HERE.

Spring brings on allergy season. Some people sneeze their way through these months until June. There are many over-the-counter or prescription
remedies. I prefer a homeopathic melt-under-the-tongue tablet from Boiron called Allergy Relief. They have zero side effects, and no prescription is needed, so I ordered them from Amazon. Sometimes, I sneeze a couple of times; then, I quickly reach for the little white tablets to put under my tongue. I have been using them for over 30 years through several name changes for the pills. They work.

My dogs are loving the warm temperature and the longer days with additional hours for their sunbathing. Dachshunds are powered by the sun, as any dachshund owner knows. They lay on the warm bricks of the walkway to my house and seem to melt into them. Occasionally, one will rise partway and turn over onto the opposite side to even out the warming, I suspect. Their coats are hot to the touch when I reach down to pat them. They wave a tail at me but are in no hurry to move from their toasty spots as the sun begins to lower in the sky.

My menu changes with the weather. Salads with added things like avocado, pecans, dried cherries, hard-boiled eggs, and whatever happens to be nearby appear more regularly. You will see fewer Caesar salads and more use of bib lettuce or baby spinach to keep the meals light. Chicken or shrimp often find their way into these salads; sometimes, even things like smoked salmon or anchovies grace the bowl. The dressing is simply olive oil, apple cider vinegar, and balsamic glaze, plus unique healthy salt from Dr. Chang and coarsely ground black pepper.

In no time at all we will be mopping our brows and saying, “My Goodness, it is hot!” Summer will engulf us, and many will complain about the change to high temperatures. But I love all the seasons. Virginia has the best spring. It can last for four months. Or not. Sometimes, it gets hot and stays hot early in May; other times, we have had fires in our fireplaces in June. It is always a mystery. We must wait for the outcome; the finale may be early or late.

Summer is great here, too. Early summer specializes in thunderstorms and magnificent skies. Sometimes there are rainbows. Fall here is like spring; it lasts for more than three months. Our winters are short and sometimes accompanied by violent winter storms. It can get really cold, but the duration is short. Before you know it, little green plants are pushing through the soil. I have had daffodils blooming in the middle of February once or twice. Spring is unpredictable.

Now, April is with us for the next four weeks, and it is splendid. Enjoy every moment!

Copyright©. 2025 Bonnie B. Matheson