Okay, this is beyond fabulous: sunny today, and a high of 69f (21c). There will be a lot of ping pong bounce in temperatures in the next two weeks but without doubt, we are in spring territory!
I want to search for flower tips this morning. Really, where are they? I have a very tiny success in this.
How could we be this much behind in this year's growing season? I check Ocean posts from years past: on March 10th of last year, our crocuses were at their fullest bloom. But was that an anomaly? In 2023, we had a huge snowstorm and we went skiing on this day. In 2022 we had traces of snow on the ground. In 2021, we had emergent tips of bulbs -- so, slightly better, but not by much. And in 2020? Well, that was a sad set of days! Covid struck. Suddenly the absence of crocuses slips to a very low tier of importance.
Ed is wrapped up in machine testing and analysis this morning, so I eat breakfast alone. It's late enough! We haven't quite switched to Daylight Savings Time in our habits.
Since I do not have child care today (another grandmother is still visiting and the two older kids are off from school), and since the day promises to deliver one fine stretch of warmth and sunshine, Ed and I decide to do a bike excursion to the Olbrich Gardens. I'm in search of spring growth and the Madison metropolitan area always gets a head start on this. Us rural folk trail behind.
The bike ride itself should take no more than 50 minutes each way, but it takes us significantly longer to pedal back. The winds are strong and I try to limit my electric assist.
But it is a magnificent ride!
On the way there, we stop off at Madison Sourdough. I pick up a coffee and some pastries and we take these with us to the Gardens. You cant eat inside the Gardens, but there a tables just by the entrance and we claim one for this heavenly picnic in the sunshine. In this somewhat sheltered space, the wind is minimal and I am down to... a cami!
As we nibble on an almond croissant and a pain au raisin, I tell Ed about an article I read this morning about two men from Mexico -- one illegal and one who eventually claimed citizenship -- who'd been working in this country (in Chicago) for many years. Both are Trump supporters. Despite the fact that one is threatened with deportation and the other has relatives that are threatened with deportation. So why this seemingly nonsensical backing of a person who may disrupt or even destroy their livelihood? Well, according to this article (from the NYT) -- they're angry. The Venezuelan migrants who sought asylum were dumped in Chicago, busloads of them, but they came with papers, phones, insurance, vouchers and scheduled hearings. The Mexicans got none of this. And, in their view, the Democrats didn't do enough to create pathways to citizenship for them. I found one reader's comment (it received the most thumbs up votes) interesting: They've become true Americans! Willing to hurt even themselves as long as they can be assured that someone else isn't getting anything more than they themselves have gotten. And so I ask Ed -- don't you sometimes vote against your self interest? I mean, you (and your partner) started a company, so you are an entrepreneur, you have at least some investments, so presumably you should vote Republican. (Forget about Trump who is not a true Republican.) But you consistently vote for Democrats. Not for business friendly Republicans.
I swear I hear him snort at this. I absolutely vote with self-interest! In the recent decades, America's strongest economic growth has been under Democratic presidents. They've given us stability, regulatory certainty, and opened up markets. And please, it's not in my self interest to breathe polluted air and watch the poisoning of our environment (something that Republican politicians seem to be comfortable with).
We go inside the Gardens. I know where to look -- right by the birch trees. And yes! The snowdrops have opened up! Our first blooms of the season!
Everything else is deeply buried under last years spent growth. Brown on brown. Just like at the farmette.
We bike home deeply satisfied. Wind and sun, pastries and flowers. Could it be a more beautiful afternoon?
Sure, a cool-down is coming tomorrow. But who can complain -- today was so completely sublime!
with love...
