Spring Has Sprung

Skip Warren - UNT History Major


In the two short weeks that has passed since my last observation, dramatic changes have taken place. The trees and bushes have exploded with buds and new leaves. One small tree thought dead this recently passed winter has produced groups of tightly bound clusters of buds at the tips of its branches. Flying insects are very busy. Bees, hornets and others so fast they cannot be identified. Doves and mockingbirds are competing to be heard. The low fern-like ground cover has grown 6-8 inches taller with longer stalks and denser foliage. It may be wild carrot or a similar looking poisonous hemlock. Both have similar looking tubers below ground. The few sprigs of dollar weed have also grown taller and sprouted short elongated purple flowers. The minnows have reappeared and are much more agitated. They must have been hiding under the ice during my last viewing. All sizes chase each other, breaching the surface occasionally as they swim the entire length of the pond. Not even the waterfall bothers them anymore. Spring’s warm weather has had dramatic effect on everything. Though not mentioned before, some trash that has been resident of the mandala for the last three months (and longer) is now home to various bug larvae swimming in collected rain water. A Styrofoam cup and a few creased food wrappers are habitats now. Paradoxically, picking up trash would now destroy life.

As mentioned before, the weather too is performing as advertised. The Marfa front out west has the potential to combine with an approaching cold front bringing a strong chance of severe weather tonight. Hail could really damage this small ecosystem. However this time, the mandala will be situated in the center of low pressure which might soften the blow. It is the northeast side of low pressure that always has the worst weather. As I write, the city of Tulsa, which lies northeast of the mandala, is getting hit with a tornado and strong thunderstorms from this same system, shutting down their airport. Consider what the northeast side of a hurricane is like.

The trash brings up a dilemma. Should I pick all of it up? No one has bothered as yet. I’m sure some of it has blown in through the fence just as sure as I am of people throwing some of it here. Some trash has been here quite a while as evidenced by its brittle, weathered nature. Corners of it peep out from old dense undergrowth. Maybe I should leave it all as midden to be discovered by some future archaeologist.