Spring comes to Barry backyard – finally

Pat and I enjoyed yesterday’s taste of spring. We both had the day off as compensation for working too many hours the week before. We had hopes of starting the day in the backyard doing the usual spring clean up and covering the frozen ground with plastic to jump the gardening season. Unfortunately our neighborhood pyromaniac had the day off as well. He had already started a fire burning old lathe and wet leaves. We wisely decided to take a walk until the smoke cleared.

Our walk included a stop at Devon Market where we filled our backpacks and a couple of canvas bags with broccoli rabe, spinach, asparagus, kale, potatoes, grapefruit, bananas, avocados, pasta and fresh mozzarella for about $30. Carolyn was coming home for spring break so we took the opportunity to stock up.

We returned home hungry. So I chopped and sautéed some onions, peppers, tofu, ginger, garlic and carrots then added leftover green beans, spinach and rice. While the fried rice was cooking the straw-thin asparagus was steaming. Yum.

By now pyro man and the smoke were gone. I was ready to tackle the yard, but before I could head out a very large cooper’s hawk appeared and treated us to a graceful display of soaring on the wind and chasing the backyard flock of pigeons. Pat thinks it’s the biggest cooper we’ve seen, with a wingspan of over 3 feet.


After the cooper left, Pat went out front to prep and repaint the front steps and install a dutchman (a wood block to patch a rotten spot) and I went out back to clean up under the bird feeders. I easily filled the wheelbarrow with cracked open sunflower shells, feathers and rabbit droppings. All of which I dumped in the compost.

Pat and I regrouped for some late afternoon coffee and were treated to a kestrel sighting. And not just one kestrel, but two! The pair hung out for half an hour then flew east.

The backyard flock returned soon after the hawks left. The male cardinal fed the female, a couple of male finches fought over a female and a robin appeared. Spring is here.