What A Difference A Day Makes
Seasons change.
To call Front Range weather unpredictable is an understatement. We had gone from temperatures in the 70s to the low 30s and nearly eight inches of snow. May, usually around Mother’s Day, is when we get what I call our real snow. It’s not the usual light, powdery stuff. It’s the wet snow. The heavy snow. It’s usually the last chance of the season for measurable precipitation. Waking up to the snow was welcome. Very welcome. It didn’t even sit on the sidewalk and roads. Just weighed down the pine limbs and filled up 5 gallon buckets.
A few of my friends who know I have things planted reached out to see how my garden was doing after the snow. They aren’t gardeners. They don’t know that snow is ‘poor man’s fertilizer.’ That as it falls, it picks up nitrogen and other trace minerals that melts down into the soil. That snow is an insulator helping to protect already sprouted perennials and cool weather crops. That I was super happy for the snow.
Everything came through the snow just fine. Most of it melted away the next day and it was all gone the day after that. The only sign that there was any snow that week is that the grass began to green, the perennials looked like they doubled in size, there’s water in the five gallon buckets, and the fire warnings are suspended…at least for now.
After the crucifixion, the disciples were in disarray. Judas, in his regret and despair, hung himself (Matthew 27:3-5). Peter sobbed bitterly, having denied Jesus three times as foretold (Luke 22:54-62). The disciples were scattered and in hiding. The ministry of Jesus seemed to be over.
What a difference a day makes! On Saturday all seemed hopeless, but on Sunday, the women reported that the stone was rolled away (Luke 24:1-12). Peter and John found an empty tomb (Luke 24:12). Jesus broke bread with two disciples while traveling (Luke 24: 13-33). He just showed up in the midst of His followers in hiding (Luke 24:36-48), proving that the resurrection is real.
One day you are in the wine press threshing wheat while hiding from the Midians and the next day you are leading a small army against them (Judges 6-8). One day you are tending sheep and the next you are slaying a giant with a sling shot (1 Samuel 17). One day you are thrown into a lion’s den and the next you are released unscathed and your accusers are destroyed by them instead (Daniel 6:1-19). The Bible is full of stories about what happened the next day.
We are in a drought here on the Front Range. We had very little snow this winter. We have had three straight days of 80+ degree weather in the last week. One night it didn’t get below 65 degrees and I slept with the window wide open and the ceiling fan on. Yet, we have snow in the forecast this coming week with temperatures expected to be below freezing at least one of those nights. My friends and family will say I’m crazy for living in this place with wild weather, as if Michigan is much better for temperature swings. They forget we’ve been to the fireworks in coats, hats, and gloves.
I will cover the peas that are a foot tall now. The lettuce with it’s true leaves. The collards and cabbage and turnips. I will mulch with pine straw and zip close covers for the couple nights we are expected to go down to freezing or below. My friends will check in on my garden after the cold nights. I will be happy if we get a few inches of snow. I hope I can report that everything is fine because after that brief cold spell, we are expected to be in the 60s with 40 degree nights. Soon it will be as if winter was not just a few days ago.
Isn’t that the way life is? Just when you think your season of dormancy will never end, it’s spring and everything is growing. The perennials are sprouting. The birds are singing in the trees. The crickets are chirping. The bees, butterflies, and lady bugs are flitting about. The yard smells of oregano, garlic, onion, and sage. Breaking dormancy doesn’t always happen at once. Sometimes it comes in fits and starts. But dormancy always breaks and when it does, the growth begins. What a difference a day makes. Amen.
wow! so beautiful! I didn’t realize you guys got snow this late in the year.
Wow, that really is changeable weather! So much snow after warmer weather and in May as well. Much more extreme than my region. Thank you for sharing about poor man’s fertilizer too, I had no idea snow picked up and shared such nutrients..