Hope Springs an Earthworm

So, the actual line is, "Hope Springs Eternal." It has so many connotations, in just three words. Amazing how a carefully worded phrase has the power to bring to mind all variety of thougts and meanings.

Unfortunately for the masses, my line, "hope springs an earthworm," doesn't really make as much sense right off the bat, nor is it as poetic. I will explain . . . just try to bear with me!

It has been raining for about two weeks. Some days we are blessed with random bursts of sunshine, but most days have been soggy, overcast and stormy. Today was a severe weather day, so at least there was a little bit of excitement. The rain is much needed as we have been in a drought situation for the last few years, but I'm not so sure getting a year's worth of rain in a month is really the way to go! As a friend of mine said, "I am waiting for the animals to start pairing up!" Hmmmm, do mini-vans float?

As I write, it is still overcast, definitely muggy and trying to storm. People in the neighborhood are frantically trying to mow their lawns. Over the last few weeks, I had been frantically trying to get my garden in the ground, plant fruit trees and bushes and keep my toddler son entertained. Rain can really put a damper on things!

But there is always the hope of sunshine and a few moments of dry weather. They are needed. Plants need direct sunlight to effectively activate their chlorophyll and people need it for vitamin D production, not to mention the cheerfulness associated with a sunny day. Dry weather keeps the mold from becoming rampant, allows plants to obtain non-diluted nutrients from the soils and helps the streams and other waterways recover from heavy rains.

Spring is rainy and there isn't really anything to be done concerning the cycle of the seasons, so I will await the arrival of my May flowers! The hope of flowers is what gets me through the rainy days. Rainy days are also a God-send to my plants since I have history of forgetting to water them adequately!

Spring. Flowers spring up from the ground, children spring outside to play and rain springs from the clouds. Earthworms also spring on out of the soil, if you are digging! I love earthworms! As I was frantically digging my garden and transplanting my seedlings I was finding scores of earthworms! It makes me happy to find them squirmming around in the soil; to me it means the soil is becoming healthier than before.

So there I was, planting a pair of apple trees in my backyard. The first hole was uneventful. The second hole produced about a dozen earthworms. I was running earthworms from one hole to the other in an attempt to spread the wealth, the dog was chasing me and I'm sure the neighbors thought I had lost my mind! Add in a little yard waste and an apple tree and there you have it . . . hopefully the perfect new spot for baby apple tree to grow!

Hmmmm . . . hope, spring and earthworms . . . I hope you aren't groaning too loudly! Earthworms are such simple creatures and such a huge help to the garden and our lives! The next time you see one, pick it up and set him down in your garden or flowerbed . . . just be sure to give him a little blanket! It's true, hope springs an earthworm!

Tomorrow: Things that make you go CRUNCH! I