Spring

"It's spring fever….You don't quite know what it is you do want, but it just fairly makes your heart ache, you want it so!" —Mark Twain * Spring Break. The words conjure many things for me and even spark a bit of mischief with a play on words — I brake for spring. I've got the fever and it makes me want more. More creative time. More play. More energy. More spring. Sunshine days. Cool spring breezes. Laughter. Spring seems to be a harbinger of renewed creative energy — here in Laguna Beach at least.

Laguna Beach resident Arnold Hano will be speaking at the 16th annual Nine Spring Training conference this weekend in Tucson, Ariz. The Nine conference features presentations by baseball?s historians and writers, examining race, gender and labor relations in the national pastime. Hano has been following baseball for all of his nine decades, having witnessed historic moments like Willie Mays? legendary catch in the 1954 World Series, Don Larsen?s perfect game in the 1956 Series and Sandy Koufax?

"If winter comes, can spring be far behind?" -- Percy Bysshe Shelley "To be interested in the changing seasons is... a happier state of mind than to be hopelessly in love with spring." -- George Santayana The calendar indicates that we still have five weeks to wait until the official beginning of spring (we have completed 56 days of winter as of today). Subtle signs of the change in the seasons are appearing throughout town. Deciduous trees, like the sycamore and crape myrtle, are beginning to bud under cloudless, blue skies, and Catharine's Mutabilis rose has already begun to display its bountiful blooms.

I’ve been surprised by early spring’s desire to bring rain, wind and cold temperatures. But now, we expect spring to March in, and with each passing day, the odds of additional blustery weather decrease. Although we expect, and even enjoy the necessary winter storms, nothing is quite as beautiful as a sunny spring in Laguna. Catharine, who has dedicated her weekends to musing about the garden, between writing her column, has already enjoyed her spring bulbs, contemplated removing the thirsty lawn and is preparing the vegetable planter for Early Girl tomatoes.

Driving through Laguna Canyon the other day, I couldn’t help but notice how pretty those green hillsides look under the sunlight. Yes, spring is almost in the air. Thursday was spectacular, with the sun shining again and all of the spring flowers beginning to pop. Life here in Laguna is always good. Between enjoying the greenbelts and the beaches, you could say Laguna has it all. There’s nothing like walking the path near the Montage and watching the sunset.

To a baseball fan, the sweetest words in the English language may well be those reprised annually in mid-February, “Pitchers and catchers report to spring training” -- news that signals the beginning of another season. It is also a truth commonly acknowledged that many academics adore baseball and are adept at finding ways to use the game in their courses on literature, business administration, and American history — which is why you’ll find some seventy baseball scholars arriving in Tucson on Thursday, March 12th for the 16th annual Nine Spring Training Conference.

"(Easter) is a religious...activity of Spring in our blood." — Wallace Stevens "Earth is a task garden..." — G. K. Chesterton April stirs a gardener's blood with a myriad of horticultural opportunities in Laguna ... the largest and brightest selection of flowers, vegetables, shrubs and trees are available this month. Your favorite nursery is literally overflowing with tempting spring bloomers, vying for attention with Easter holiday plants.

Two little love birds sitting in a tree … k-i-s-s-i-n-g… I had slept late. The golden morning light on the trees framed by the skylight was the first thing I saw when opening my eyes. Rolling over, I snuggled back down under the warm covers of my loft bed, part of me longing to hold onto that warmth. No, no, no. The sun is out. Get up. Go for a walk. Write your column. The chattering of these head voices was not to let me languish abed, it was clear.

"The master's eye is the best fertilizer." -- Pliny the Elder For like as herbs and trees bringen forth fruit and flourish in Spring … -- With apologies to Sir Thomas Malory One of the joys of being a gardener is preparing for the onset of spring. In my case, my initial experiences were tepid at best... not due to a deficiency in aptitude, but rather for lack of time and too many other competing interests. However, the lessons of horticulture were not completely wasted on me. My pulse begins to quicken with the anticipation of March … to taste the first strawberry from the garden; savoring Catharine's joy in seeing seven new spikes on her prized cymbidium orchid; and spotting Mary Kate refining her own emerging Eden.