You can’t beat spring in Michigan. I used to tell my mother, who had moved along with my dad to Alabama in 1980, that she no longer appreciated spring like we who still lived in the north did.

That without the freezes and snow and frigid wind she didn’t have a true understanding of how wonderful spring can be.

She disagreed. She said she didn’t need to freeze to know warmth.

I suppose not, but I have to think that those of us living here in the north (and there is much more north north of me!) are much more grateful for those warm days than people living in the perpetually sunny south.

She used to say they had fall colors down there too. But that’s an entirely different post.

Anyway, this is just a long winded way to share the spring that is happening right this minute in my backyard.

For those of you living further to the north of me, this is what I’m sending to you as soon as I’m done with it.

But, to be honest, I might not be done with it for several more weeks.

It was a long, tough winter around here.

And we’re due for some relief.

Yes we are.