Since a couple of weeks ago, Pittsburgh has been involuntarily huddled under a blanket of snow.
As a school crossing guard I stand out of doors a LOT. Which can be a perk when the weather isn’t so frigid, but this week not so much! I tell the kids I’m “battery powered” because I wear battery charged socks, mittens, and vest. They get a kick out of that, at least I think that they do. Ha!
This week I’ve been using my large stop sign as a measuring stick for the snow. I’m happy to report that the snow is below the “S” now! As I watch the snow melt, I’m also watching some wintering plants become visible again. I mentally say “Hi again!” to the dry heads of purpletop vervain which were once a-buzz with honeybees and butterflies. These lavender beauties, and zinnias, cleomes (huge, and so many!) blue leadwort, yellow cosmos, and purple-vein geraniums were once in brilliant profusion in the library’s corner garden, where I spend 2 1/2 hours of my work days. Not a bad gig! getting paid for enjoying some nature study while greeting and crossing school children.
Mt. Lebanon Library’s beautiful gardens are planted and tended to completely by volunteers, and I have half a mind to join them this year…we’ll see! Until then, I’ll appreciate the snow melting while remembering Last Year’s Beauties, and look forward to what new varieties of flowers they’ll add this year! The Library garden always inspires my Echo Printing. I was offered some end of season picking privileges on fading flowers. I most gladly collect a select few to add beauty to my Echo Print cards!
“O, wind, if winter comes, can spring be far behind?” -Percy Bysshe Shelley, Ode to the West Wind.
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