Spring has begun its return to El Morro. The canyons here on the Colorado Plateau are running cold and high with snow-melt; waterfalls thunder away in the deep woods. Ramah Lake is filling up, and snow drifts are shrinking into the shadows on the north side of Inscription Rock.
George noticed the first fly of the season on a hike around the lake. A family of flycatchers arrived on the same day and began building a nest under the deck. Bull snakes are sunning themselves and lizards have emerged, doing their push-ups on warm rocks. Ewes are lambing in Zuni and Navajo flocks, the parturition dabbing flecks of white against the dun-colored sage and chamisa.
Mud still comes and goes with snow squalls, but the sun has taken the upper hand. Grass grows in the ditches while humming bird feeders sprout from porches and overhangs.
It's a good time of year for residents of El Morro to think about festivals, May poles, green houses, and International Naked Gardening Day. It's time to doff the down jackets, put on the wide-brimmed sun hat, prep the soil, and clean out the pickling jars.
Love is in the air, and romances have sprouted along with the verbena. Couples sip coffee at the Ancient Way Cafe. Tandem kayaks are gliding across the surface of the lake.
Of course, there is still frost on the cars in the morning. We know that snow will fly again, that winter will visit the ridges and chill the wind. We can feel winter in the shadows before the sun goes down, and then after sunset under a cold moon, but the warm-up is happening.
Spring sits on the wires and sings along with the blue birds, the grosbeaks, and copper-throated Rufous hummers. It's time to take up a spade, in the altogether, soak up some vitamin D, and endure the goose bumps.
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