Rocky Mountain Spring Review
There’s no doubt that we’re easing into summer up here on the mountain. A month ago, we were getting heavy, wet snow that would be melted in a few hours. Now, we’re getting afternoon downpours (if we’re lucky) and the chirping birds and croak of Boreal toads are now accompanied by the trill of alpine grasshoppers.
Spring is, of course, such a sweet and welcome change after the long winters in the Rocky Mountains. After living through four spring seasons up here at 8500’, I’m still in awe of how the land bursts back to life, seemingly overnight. It would seem the moment the ground thaws, the sagebrush buttercup are happily peeking out of the dirt and snow. Followed shortly by the pasqueflowers, abundant penstemon blooms, false lupine, purple mustard, chickweed, alpine aster, wild irises and more and more and more. As I write this, the paintbrush is turning red and the lupine stalks are filling out with purple blooms. The wildflowers that blanket our property in the spring and summer are something I’m most grateful for as the seasons shift. The blooms took me completely by surprise when our first spring finally came in 2020 and the hillside behind our home came suddenly alive with green, purple, yellow and white flowers.
Of course, with spring comes longer days and more sunlight. Though, something I hadn’t appreciated as much before moving into our home here in the mountains is the way the light changes completely throughout the seasons. Every evening in the spring and summer my eyes turn to hearts when I stare out at the western part of our forest to see the golden sunlight pouring in from a new angle—illuminating the tall grass and wildflowers, and casting long shadows from the pine trees. Our home is also given a new personality in the warmer months as the light pours in through the windows, illuminating different parts of each room. A sure sign of the season’s change.
With warmer days, I’m also struck by the way the light floods the mountains across the valley from us. The north facing mountain sees little of the sun throughout the winter, but in the spring and summer the forested mountainside looks completely different in the evenings when it becomes drenched in light.
I can’t reflect on springtime without mentioning my garden. Planning my garden is what gets me through the last few months of winter around here. Starting seeds and seeing bulbs poke out of the ground fills me with hope for warm and sunny days. As has been the case in the past, the chives are eager to poke out of the snow at the very first signs of spring. My potted tomato plant is just now forming flower buds but the one I transplanted to our beds is growing slower — probably because I wasn’t able to bring it inside during the chillier evenings a few weeks ago. My garlic is looking much more robust than last year and the potatoes have taken off. I have annuals planted in the pots in front of the garage, some of which have been eaten by the local chipmunks. I’m hopeful they’ll make a comeback. The lilac and serviceberry are happily established on the north side of the garage and enjoying the plentiful sun.
As the summer equinox approaches I wanted to dedicate a post to reviewing how spring has unfolded up here in the mountains. The gardens are happy to say the least. We’ve had a wet, mild spring so the plants have been well watered and given a chance to establish themselves ahead of the inevitable warmth and sunshine coming to us this summer.
The perennial garden has awoken completely. It looks so happy! I was worried about damage from voles or some other mystery critter at the end of last spring but it appears the damage was minimal. I lost two of my three columbines and one of my gardenias. Otherwise, the garden came alive seemingly overnight with the rest of the sleeping plants. Our sedum is the thickest and tallest it’s ever been, and definitely spreading out like I’d hoped. The columbine that survived is in full bloom and our other plants are leafing out readily. I can’t wait to see the hollyhocks later this summer.
The wide range of seasons we get to experience here in the mountains is something I very quickly came to appreciate. To be able to feel, so viscerally, the changes and how they impact our life and the ecosystem is something that keeps me grounded throughout the year. Views like the one in the video above are what I think of when I feel burnt out from winter. I remind myself that because of the cold and snow, which are stunning in their own way, we are able to enjoy the beauty of spring and summer each year.