This is the time of year when I generally give the impression that I am, at a minimum, half crazy. This will probably be the blog post that removes any doubt.

Apparently, I am not alone. The Los Angeles Times has reported that, “Spring fever, that reputed and seemingly infectious malady that strikes when the days lengthen and temperatures begin to climb, has been blamed for feverish bouts of house-cleaning, restless behavior in the classroom, distraction in meetings and love struck dazes…Some scientists think spring fever is more than just a colloquialism — they think it’s a constellation of symptoms brought about by hormonal changes in the body.”

This month, as my hormones and I reached the half-century mark, my kids and even some of the 40-plus crowd on the block have grown fond of telling me, “You are now a grandpa. Your are now 50 years of age. Face it, your are officially old.”

Nevertheless, springtime always bring new life to all of us here in Arizona. There is snow in the mountains, Major League Baseball’s Spring Training in the Valley, and glorious weather marked by a generous sprinkling of wildflowers nearly everywhere in between.

After our St. Patrick’s Day countdown series, I am planning on some much-needed photo-remedy. In fact, I have already started as the wildflowers are just beginning to join our beloved sagauro cacti in reaching for heaven. The ‘wild lily’ photo below was captured near our home in the (currently) dry bed of New River.

This Spring, I am committed to doing my best to recognize that there is frequently much more than I observe at first glance; the series of shots below are intended to suggest this all-important point.

Yes, there is often more than meets the eye in springtime. To commemorate my 50th birthday, and coinciding with a small ‘home improvement’ project, I recently developed a special spring garden on the sunset side of our house. It is my way of reminding my family and friends that in the springtime even new flowers can emerge from old pots!

– Greg

Quotations about Spring from Quote Garden

The year’s at the spring
And day’s at the morn;
Morning’s at seven;
The hillside’s dew-pearled;
The lark’s on the wing;
The snail’s on the thorn;
God’s in His heaven –
All’s right with the world!
~Robert Browning

Spring makes its own statement, so loud and clear that the gardener seems to be only one of the instruments, not the composer.  ~Geoffrey B. Charlesworth