Spring Memories

Although temperatures are warming, and March is the beginning of springtime, it is snowing here on Druid Hill Creek today. The snow began before sunup and has continued through the afternoon, keeping us indoors. The warmth of the season is far enough along that although substantial snowfall seems to be happening, it melts as it settles. But the skies are pewter grey and the landscape a warmer darker grey-brown. The creek flows dark. One longs for spring flowers and yellow foliage, so I went searching in old sketchbooks.

"Spring, the bridge," watercolor and ink, 4x5

In late March two years ago I sketched a bridge and newly leafy trees in a park. Compared with today the scene looks warm and lazy, not wet and drippy.

"Ancient Lilac," watercolor and ink, 5x10

The following month found us in Washington visiting family where I sat under an umbrella in a misty rain and sketched an ancient lilac whose thick twisted braches were covered in moss. The branches were as thick as my arm in some places and seemed to reach into the sky for moisture.

"Druid Hill Creek, Spring," watercolor and ink 5x9

The greening of undergrowth along the creek is the real signal that true spring has arrived. Last year it was early April--about a month from now--before the honeysuckle began to show any green at all, then suddenly, within a day or two the whole of the bushes along the banks simply burst into yellow-green leaves.

There will be warm days and dry days and time to paint more of the landscape. But for today, memories of springtime will have to do.