Saturday, April 11, 2009

Smelly Spring



There is nothing that reminds me more of Spring than a forsythia bush. We were at my dad's house the past two days and he has a lot of them. It's funny how looking at a bush makes you feel at home. As a child, I knew warmer weather would be here soon when I saw little yellow buds on the forsythia bushes. I love them!

On my drive back from my dad's house yesterday there were many smells that brought back a lot of springtime memories.

Tis the season to fertilize gardens and fields, and oh were there fields and gardens that were recently fertilized. It was a very smelly ride home, until we hit the rain. It made me remember track season. Our high school was in a more rural area, and there was a corn field right across from the school. Well, every spring that field was fertilized. Track was quite smelly during that time, especially if the wind was blowing in the right direction. You dreaded running around the south end of the track, because that is when it really hit you. I would try to time my breathing just right so I would be able to hold my breath around that corner, or just breath out of my mouth. It usually messed up my breathing pattern and in turn made me lose a race. (just kidding)


Another smell that made it's way into the car was the smell of fresh cut grass and those wild onions. Mmmmm. Yummy. That smell just makes me want to take a blanket on a lawn and lay there all evening. Inhale. Exhale. Delicious. It reminds me of sitting outside in the grass talking to friends, and pulling the grass absentmindedly as you talk. Now that is a carefree feeling. When I smell fresh cut grass it reminds me of playing wiffle (that's how I say it) ball outside on the front lawn with my family when I was a teen. Those are fun memories.


A very distinct smell also greeted us once we got closer to our state. Earth worms. When you think of the smell of earth worms, don't you envision them squished on the pavement? Well, I do, and that made me think of Elementary School. Our elementary school was one where you had to walk outdoors to go to the library, the cafeteria, the gym, etc. There were always dead worms that you had to avoid stepping on. Icky. Isn't it funny that the smell of earth worms reminds me of elementary school? It also reminds me of running to and from the bus in the rain, and running track while trying to avoid stepping on them. That smell is very spring.

What smells remind you of spring?

2 comments:

jen said...

definitely the fresh cut grass and wild onions! Also wet pavement - maybe it smells like your earthworms? Because it rains so much here in the spring - I love the smell of wet pavement, strange I know.

becky said...

The smell of earthworms reminds me of jellybeans. ;)