BUD HUNT

“Where’d you go?” My son Alex asked me as I was coming around from the side of the house.

“I’m on a bud hunt.” I said as we both headed for the car.

“You were checking to see if the daffodils have come up yet, weren’t you?” He laughed as he opened the car door.

“The green leaves are poking through but no buds yet.” I sighed as I put the key in the ignition.

“It’s still March.” Alex reminded me as he pulled his seat belt across his chest. “It’s not even officially spring until the 20^th.”

“But we’ve had some warm days so I guess I’m just getting anxious to start seeing more signs that spring is on its way.” We backed out of the driveway and I pointed to the neighbors’ weeping willow tree, its leaves now a chartreuse color. “See, that’s what I’m talking about! One of the first trees to show signs that spring is on its way.” I looked over at Alex. “Isn’t it beautiful?”

Alex pointed to a tree further up the street that had a hint of deep red on its branches. “There’s another one getting ready to pop.”

I looked up to where he was pointing. “That’s a silver maple. Another one that has early buds on it.” As I slowly drove down our street I was busy scanning the neighborhood for more signs. “See? It’s not too early to start checking.”

We passed a neighbors’ lilac bush.

“I see buds starting on that one!” Alex said as he looked in his side mirror back towards our house. “That’s funny I didn’t see our lilac with any buds on it yet.”

“We have a purple lilac and theirs is white. I noticed it a few years back that theirs always blooms a few weeks ahead of ours.” I shrugged my shoulders and shook my head. “I have no idea why.”

We were out of the neighborhood and out on the main road. I pointed up to the leafless trees we were passing. “All these trees are covered in wisteria vines. It won’t be long before clusters of purple flowers will be hanging from them.” I looked over at Alex. “They’re definitely one of my top ten favorite scents.”

Alex laughed. “I know. You pick some every year and put them in the kitchen.”

“They only last a few days in water but it reminds me of our old house with the wisteria right outside the kitchen door. I’d have the windows open so I could smell them while I was cooking.” I shrugged my shoulders. “It’s not exactly the same, having them in a glass of water next to the sink, but it’s a close second.”

I opened my window a few inches to feel the cool breeze. “Ever since we moved the clocks ahead last weekend I’ve just gotten more and more ready for spring to be here.”

Alex reached over and patted me on the shoulders. “It’ll be here before you know it.”

“Well, it’s dragging its feet!” I called out the window. “Bring on the sounds of some spring peepers, please!”