For this former Louisianian, springtime in DC never gets old. I gladly throw open my windows to infuse my office with the chilly, pollen-filled air. My cats lounge on the window sill and fantasize about catching the birds and squirrels outside.
Even with the rainy days (and one day of snow), spring’s ambivalence makes me appreciate the cherry blossoms and greener grass even more.
Today is considered peak bloom for the cherry blossoms, but my favorite flowers are the purple magnolia trees. They’re more delicate than the giant, robust white ones that are more prevalent in the south.
The smaller blooms remind me of my father. When my parents were finally able to buy their first home, my father planted his favorite trees: the purple magnolia. He carefully flipped through plant catalogs and ordered saplings via snail mail. When they arrived, he lovingly planted them in our front yard.
Each Louisiana spring the magnolias rewarded him with a burst of color on its naked branches. My father isn’t much of a gardener these days, but I’ll never forget how much he loved those saplings.
What’s your favorite thing about spring?