I don’t want to make people living in the Northern United States feel bad, but spring has sprung here in Texas. Of course, next week we may have another winter. There is a meme around social media that shows the seasons of Texas though it is a little misleading because it doesn’t show the timing of each season. Most of the seasons listed in the meme only last a few days or weeks while Summer and Hell’s Front Porch make up the biggest part of the year. Right now we are in Fool’s Spring or Spring of Deception. We should have another freeze before Easter if things go as usual. But Spring is my favorite season so I am not complaining.
One of my favorite parts of spring is the mass of wildflowers blooming along the roadsides in Texas. Bluebonnets are our state flower and in some places across the state the sides of the highway as far as you can see are blanketed in blue. For those of you not from Texas, I know other states have beautiful seasons too. In my part of Texas we totally miss out on fall foliage. I’d love for any of you readers to share your favorite season or pictures from your part of the world!
The itch to plant something this time of year is strong, but I have to resist because of Third Winter of course, but I am getting ready. Our bluebirds are starting to build a nest in our nest box, the trees are bursting with leaf buds. Hints of honeysuckle and yellow jasmine are in the air and red bud trees have already gifted us their pop of color and are leafing out. The dreary brown of our winter is disappearing. I haven’t seen a snake yet but we are on the lookout and an odoriferous black and white visitor has been coming around the house on a regular basis, much to our dog Rosie’s dismay. Below are some books I’ve been reading that remind me of what’s going on around me.
Full disclosure: We don’t have honeysuckle blooming yet This picture is from last year.
Check out my next post for reviews of books about Spring.
BOOK REVIEW– to purchase these books go to my Book Review page here or the Bookshop page here
Title: In A Garden
Author: Tim McCanna Illustrator: Aimee Sicuro
Publisher: Simon & Schuster for Young Readers 2020
“In a garden full of green, many moments go unseen.” This quote is from the book and I think captures the whole point of this lovely rhyming book. Though growing garden plants is part of the story, this book includes so much more, capturing the unseen things that happen in the garden and the unseen creatures that live or visit there. A lot of information is seamlessly included and not didactic at all. Lovely illustrations with lots of families adds to the enjoyment. Would be a great addition to any classroom.
Title: Treemendous: Diary of a Not Yet Mighty Oak
Author: Bridget Heos Illustrator: Mike Ciccotello
Publisher: Crown Books for Young Readers 2023
Written from the point of view of an acorn keeping a journal of its life, this book would be perfect for elementary classrooms that include life cycles in their curriculum. The young acorn point of view is appealing to kids. Besides the life cycle, there are connections to photosynthesis and the importance of trees in fighting climate change. Back matter includes tree anatomy, a condensed version of the life cycle and some great resources.