Like the Swallows of Capistrano…

… So are the pair of mallard ducks that arrive to my backyard every spring, without fail. This has been the ritual for close to 20 years, since I put in an ornamental pond. There is usually a male and a female, and like clockwork they have always arrived between St. Patrick's Day and the first official day of spring, March 21^st. Many years they have appeared on the official first day of spring. They hang around for about 6 weeks or so, swimming, basking on the side of the pond, waddling around the grounds and we've even found eggs at pond's edge from time-to-time during their yearly sojourn. After about 6 weeks, or so, they take off to an undisclosed destination. They won't come again till the next spring.

Our small pond/water garden at this time of year is really just a stagnant pool of grey water that is not very attractive. Once I connect the pump and filter, which serves to also drive a little water fall, dredge out some of the leaves and accumulated debris that has collected over the winter months, and the water lilies begin to reach their padded little arms upwards toward the increasing daylight, everything begins to transform. The water soon becomes crystal clear, birds, frogs and other wildlife begin to make regular visits, or take up residence all together. I will return the koi fish and comets that have wintered over in my basement tank – they always appear eager to embrace the more natural habitat and get a taste of the (relative) wild.

It seems that this year summer is already upon us with temperatures already breaching 80 degrees – quite unusual, but so was our extremely mild winter for the Chicago and Midwest region. Everything is coming to life! The forsythias, magnolias are in bloom; lilacs are not far behind and all manner of green shoots are breaking through the soil and reaching heavenward.
Easter is just around the corner. A reminder of rebirth, and for those of the Christian faith a promise of new life, and much like the cycle of my pond, it goes from dull stagnancy to abundant life, new clarity, and perfectly balanced beauty all in its proper season…