“Welcome to Dubois!” read the scrolling digital sign in town last week. “Spring is almost here.”
Nonsense. Spring is already here.
We’ve waited so long for the days to lengthen and the breeze to feel more gentle. There’s no question now that the vigil is ending.
Back in Brooklyn, spring burst in with a gaudy show of flowering trees. Here, the signs are more subtle–but unmistakeable nonetheless.
Last week I took a hike at Sheridan Creek. The hills were still half-covered with snow.Near the creek, I spotted my first tiny, indisputable sign of spring.Later I saw more tiny clumps of them, harbingers of the riot of wildflowers to come.Time to get the garden ready for planting. These are the stalks from last year’s hollyhocks.I sat down to relax, and watched a calf over in the valley, searching for its mother. Finding her, he bounded over and began to suckle.The bluebirds have returned. This one sat for hours guarding a nest (I hope).Best of all, driving back from town I spotted this lanky lady. (Footnote to real Neyawkers: It’s a moose.) She saw me too, and ran off. I wondered where junior was hiding.Snow still comes, but not in earnest. The spots on the picture are snowflakes. But see the blue sky?Later, back at the highway, I watched the weather coming in again. But it won’t last.
I am a retired science journalist, devoted to enjoying and recording the many pleasures of life in the Wyoming's Upper Wind River Valley.
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One thought on “Tiny Signs of Spring in the Big Valley”
I have only been to Dubois one time and all I can say it is beautiful I sure wish I could come back there sometime but age is getting in my way. Maybe someday I could come back
I have only been to Dubois one time and all I can say it is beautiful I sure wish I could come back there sometime but age is getting in my way. Maybe someday I could come back