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The Vernal Equinox is less than a week away and, right on cue, Spring is starting to take hold here in the eastern U.S.

The past week witnessed birds returning from their winter havens. Robins were seen hoping around the field edges, while red-winged blackbirds were heard singing from utility poles. Flocks of Canada geese communicated noisely as they flew North in fantastic “V” formations.

Crocuses were blooming in Virginia a couple weeks ago, and here in southcentral Pennsylvania I spotted my first golden yellow crocuses coming up in the Millerstown town square – crossroads, really – just yesterday.

We’ll likely have more winter weather yet, but the last two days have been gloriously warm for the season. Warmer than average by 15 to 20 degrees! Snowbanks are history now and the brown grass is starting to green up.

No trees are budding or sprouting yet, but some weedy types that have foliage left over from last growing season are making an attempt. Pennsylvania bittergrass and purple dead nettle volunteered in the vegetable garden. Day lilies next to the house are sprouting and lamb’s ear rosettes are green in the flower garden.

We have to look indoors to find something blooming. What’s blooming now, you ask? A member of the Spiderwort family, the Wandering Jew!

The wandering jew has linear-veined, oval-shaped, pointed leaves with a distinctive purple underside. The stalkless leaves clasp the creeping stem in alternate fashion. The creeping stems and flower stalks are purple.

White, three-petaled flowers at the terminal stem ends are 1/4 inch in diameter with stamens having bright yellow anthers.

This plant has been flowering since February 24 – going on three weeks. A single bud rises up from a loose cluster to open its bloom in the sunlight. Blooms last for one day, only to be replaced by another waiting in the cluster. Drooping buds are actually blooms that have wilted.

Last year we had some other houseplants bloom in March, too. It’s interesting that one of the profuse bloomers was “Moses-in-the-boat”, another member of the spiderwort family.

Leaves are falling all around us. Almost time to get the gutters cleaned out!

Fall colors weren’t as brilliant this year. Some say it has to do with the amount of moisture. I don’t know, but I still enjoyed seeing the change from green to yellow, orange and red in the forest canopy.

Near the edge of the woods a maple tree bares its trues colors.

We have had a good deal of moisture lately here in Central Pennsylvania. Maybe that spurred a violet into thinking it was time to show her blossom. I was surprised when I saw the purple flower, but it did remind me that several factors govern the timing of plant growth — namely, the recent temperatures of the microclimate, the amount of daylight received by the plant, and moisture levels.

Evidently, some factors are more important than others for certain members of the Kingdom Plantae.

A violet dares to be different and is found blooming in autumn.

Of course not much else is blooming right now. The only bright colors we’ll likely see for another month are the berries. Bright red partridgeberries can be found along the paths in the woods where leaves haven’t completely covered them over. Red berries on the holly trees planted near the woods edge foretell the holiday season that will soon be upon us.

Red holly berries remind me of the coming winter holiday season.

Until the harsh winter winds blow the white stuff around, a pile of leaves will help protect a few of the culinary herbs near the house. We should be able to gather a few sprigs of oregano, mints, lavender and catnip for a while longer.

Trees are changing colors. Maple leaves lighten their green and give way to yellows, oranges and bright reds that are some of the most vibrant colors of autumn. The yellows of the birches and ashes are followed by the oaks with their brown leaves that finish off the season.

The sun is low in the sky and shadows are getting longer now. In the summertime the sun seems to jump up into the sky, and now it just takes its time and struggles to reach the peak of the summer sun. Try taking photos of sun streaks through the tree leaves to see some interesting patterns.

Sun shining low in the sky produces a starburst effect when viewed through the trees.

Smooth Sumac, Rhus glabra, are small trees found at the edge of the corn field and along the lane. This time of year the berries are bright red and so are the compound leaves. Sumac berries are a good food source for many types of songbirds as well as the pheasant, turkey and grouse.

Red berries hide among the bright red leaves of the sumac tree.

Native Americans used sumac wood to make long peace pipes. The pith of a section of sumac wood can be picked, pushed or burned out to produce a hole than runs the length of the branch. The bowl and mouthpieces were inserted into the openings of the pipe and typically were removable for transport so as to protect each piece. Decorative carvings or paintings adorned the pipes.

Red sumac berries have been used to make a lemonade-like drink for many years. All you do is collect the group of berries and soak in cold water for about 15 minutes. Strain the pink liquid through cheesecloth, sweeten and chill.

You can use either staghorn sumac or smooth sumac berries as there are only slight morphological differences between these two Rhus species that sometimes hybridize.

Don’t worry, the red-berried sumacs are not like poison sumac, which has ivory-white berries that dangle downward and grows in swamp-like areas. Don’t touch any part of the poison sumac plant as it causes severe dermatitis – even worse than poison ivy!

We’re in Amish country today. Just look around and you’ll see horses pulling buggies or carts. Youngins – always wearing hats – go most places on bicycles or on foot.

Farmers’ markets and their womens’ bakeries have something for everyone. What a delight!

It’s always fun to go to the local market when you’re traveling about. Here’s a great Amish market a few miles south of Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania. There are a couple places along this stretch of Routes 11/15 where you can purchase Amish-made quilts — just look for the quilts blowing in the breeze!

After viewing and purchasing some of the apples, pumpkins and other home-grown vegetables, we move on to the Bakery.

Guess where she’s headed! Shoe-fly pie, anyone?

And who wouldn’t be delighted working across the highway from such a beautiful river front view?

The Susquehanna River as viewed from across Routes 11/15 at Weaver’s Farm Market.

If variety is the spice of life, then it would be good to be a gourd! Check out the different colors and textures of these gourds.

Can’t imagine using that old wheelbarrow for anything but a display!

This Indian Corn tells the season, doesn’t it? The variety of colors makes it a great addition to seasonal decorations.

Indian corn hanging at the farmer’s market.

Talk about variety — Chrysanthemums are now available in so many colors. It would be a shame to not have at least one or two for a splash of fall color outside your doorstep. Look how many blossoms are on this mum — you can’t see any green!

Chrysanthemums are available in many autumn colors. This one has a multitude of blossoms.

In Zone 5 it’s a coin toss as to whether they will overwinter, but try planting a few mums anyway. They make for nice cut flowers that are fairly long lasting.

Sassafras is a favorite woodland herb. It is really a tree, but the roots can be used liked an herb. Sassafras grows quickly at the edge of the oak forest and requires cutting back every so often.

Each time that I cut sassafras I try to bring up some of the root to save for tea. Smelling the roots as you’re digging them up justifies the effort. A pleasing scent, I’ll say.
The roots are shaken of dirt and rinsed with water to gently clean. Roots are placed in a saucer or bowl in a cupboard and left there to cure.

When I feel like a cup of sassafras tea I have only to open the cupboard to retrieve a few roots, put them in near boiling water for a couple minutes, and pour the tea. The aroma totally gets me. You should try it!

In the fall the small sassafras trees seem like they dry up from the bottom with their lowest leaves turning a orange-yellow first, followed by leaves higher up. Eventually all the leaves turn a nice yellow-orange before dropping off.

Sassafras leaves turning colors from the bottom up.

Autumn colors start arriving in fallow fields in late summer. Land that has been allowed to sit undisturbed for several years will witness waves of color as the seasons progress, and some of the most noticeable colors come in the fall.

For most of September and into the beginning of October goldenrods dominate the landscape with hues of yellow. Purple asters complement the soft yellows and draw your eye’s attention.

Pretty colors in the fields are vibrant for a couple weeks as if heralding that the tree leaves will soon start changing their colors, too.