Remember March 1st? Calm winds. 52 degrees. Definitely lamb weather! And the forecast for the 31st doesn’t look particularly lion-like. Though early spring weather is fickle, we count on April to be a more golden month. Don’t you find yourselves looking for any excuse to be outdoors in the early spring sunshine? It feels as though everything alive is aching to stretch- length of the days, leaves on the trees, germinating seeds.

After a few seasons on your deck or patio, your outdoor furniture may begin to show some wear and tear. Especially if you aren’t doing regular maintenance. No matter the material, good quality pieces are manufactured with outdoor use in mind but remember that stain-resistant does not translate to stain-proof.

So how can you add the color and fragrance of flowers to your home without breaking the bank? Bring a bit of spring indoors by gathering branches of flowering trees and shrubs, and then forcing them to bloom inside the house.

As winter recedes, each sign of spring seems more symbolic than the last. And the season’s teasing tone always makes us a little crazy. We’re longing for thunderstorms instead of snow showers. The sandhill crane’s raspy call or the melodious song of a redwing blackbird makes us grin. Even the bright yellow bloom of the first dandelion can be a cause for celebration.