It’s an early spring

Apple blossoms, maple, birch
Apple blossoms, maple and birch in Lunenburg, May 13th

Apple blossoms were blooming in Lunenburg last Thursday, which means they’re past their prime in the Annapolis Valley already.  The Apple Blossom Festival will apparently be blossom-less.  Usually the organizers hit the blossoms right on with their timing, but this year it is generally agreed that spring is 2 to 3 weeks ahead of schedule.

Not that we’re complaining … this is my favourite time of year, when the leaves burst forth.  If it’s part of a long-term trend, however, it could be very disruptive to the natural balance of blooming and birthing, migration and munching, which governs the ongoing survival of many animals and plants.

Spring is early across Canada, not just in Nova Scotia, or so I hear.  Is spring early where you live?  Leave a comment below.

Spring Leaf-out in the Annapolis Valley

I had the pleasure of going to the Annapolis Valley yesterday on business.  The leaves are not really much further along there than here on the South Shore, depending where you are.    I noticed a familiar Valley odour, too – a combination of green growing things and the smelly stuff that helps them grow.  No apple blossoms yet, but they must be just about to burst forth – like in this video. They always arrive just in time for the Apple Blossom Festival:

The Anglican church on Church St., near Port Williams in the Annapolis Valley of Nova Scotia, taken May 13, 2009.
The Anglican church on Church St., near Port Williams in the Annapolis Valley of Nova Scotia.