Taste and Get into Spring

      People could be different, according to their timing of actives within a day or even in a year. Oftentimes, you may hear people saying "I’m a morning guy”, meaning the person is not only getting up pretty early, but also more active and productive in the morning than the rest of the day.

      I’m a morning guy. But the point here is, I'm a Spring guy as well. 

      It took me a long time to figure it out that the Beginning of Spring (立春), the first of the 24 solar terms, is actually not the first day of Spring each year. Instead, the Vernal Equinox (春分) is the official start of Spring in the northern hemisphere. This year, Spring kicks off on Tuesday, Mar 19.

      Nearly 2 decades ago, I was relocated to southern California, and have since settled down and developed my own way in appreciation of the season of Spring, including tasting it, and getting into it. For example, as the weather cooperates with little dry and clear breaks during the rainy months of February and March, I would go up the hillsides behind my backyard, and pick up some fresh sprouts of wild plants, such as fennel, scallion, and daisy shoots. Those wild-grown veggies are good for making dumplings. I like them very much because of their tastes of Spring.       

      The Awakening of Insects (惊蛰) turns the landscapes green, which perhaps ushers the arrival of a blossom bloom in the valleys and over the lower mountains, depending on the preparedness of the soil in terms of temp/moist. As this occurs, getting out in a sunny morning with family and friends enjoying the colorful wildflowers is always one of my favorite outdoor activities in Spring.    

      Spring is a lovely season. Taste it and get into it, as shown in the following posts I shared in my WeChat moments.

1) 题后山采撷

      今春,南加阴雨连绵,天河倒悬。气象员说是大气河流(atomepheric rivers)所致。上月中,连续四天,本埠哗哗啦啦地倾泻了将近5英寸的雨水。迄今为止,今春雨量已逾一英尺,打破历史记录。
      周末,雨过云开。早饭后,爬山踏青。行至后岭,但见野蒿、沙葱、茴香,抽出嫩芽,鲜嫩可餐。随兴采撷,山蔬佐酒,亦可称快乎!


连旬好雨云初敛
后岭春华日正闲
且摘山蔬佐诗酒
先知时味在民间

 

2) 惊蛰后踏荒

      昨,和风丽日。结伴友邻,游春赏花于钻石峡(Dianmond Valley)。见碧水浮玉,虹峡飞彩;香漫春野,花赋韵章,神清气爽之余,感慨春光乍泻,弥足珍贵!


和风拂晓日初长  猎履樵衫踏野荒
碧水湖湾浮碧玉  霓虹峡谷舞霓裳
香缭楚客迷芳径  韵起花田赋锦章
万物昭甦惊蛰后  年华最是惜春光

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