In Search of Spring 4

April showers bring... ...silver linings. Spring appears slowly in the upper half of the northern hemisphere. Once the snow has melted away and the temperatures rise above freezing, the landscape stays brown and grey for several weeks. Colours slowly emerge from the deep freeze. At times, this can be disappointing. One longs for vibrant greens of grasses and leaves. One longs for explosions of reds, yellows and purples of flowers. Occasionally, one might spy a few remnants of autumn colours in leaves that have somehow managed to stay latched to branches throughout the arctic chill of winter. But wait! There is opportunity to be had in this adversity. What a distraction spring can be. The lure of gardens, parks, woods and beaches can take one away from important tasks. This is a time for many to be putting in their last strong efforts to complete their studies, to complete course projects, to spend countless hours in libraries and study rooms preparing for exams. I say, put the brakes on spring. Delay the wonderful colours. There is a time for every season, and this is not one of them! Oak leaves, remnants from autumn, provide a bit of colour against the stark early spring campus at Niagara College in Niagara on the Lake.