I’d call yesterday’s spring snowstorm a perfect storm, but that characterization has taken on ironic meanings, Yesterday’s beautiful event, however, was special — one of the best snowstorms that I’ve seen in my long life — beautiful fat, moist flakes that stuck to everything for awhile and then had the good manners to melt away quickly under blue skies. I got out and about in Brooklin during its early to late morning life.
It began in earnest while most people slept. Snow danced about and a mostly-full waxing moon tried to crash the party in the wee hours of the morning:
In the dawn hours, our fields, woods, and wild flora and fauna were in a gray wonderland with snow still falling. The just-risen small iris were buried in snow (but survived) and the red and yellow skunk cabbages that produce their own heat hardly took notice as they got covered with snow and surrounded by ice. Migrating Canada geese had to stick their faces into the snow to eat.
Familiar structures look especially good on days like this, when they take on new, temporary aspects — the public library behind its huge maple guards; the Town Office in two colors due to new shakes; the cemetery markers and trees wearing white caps; contemporary and traditional homes looking neighborly, and barns and sheds containing everything from boats to human tenants.
Country roads, lanes, and driveways initially had no or few tracks, but soon cleared, while trees that bordered them seemed to enjoy the soothing, white cosmetics.
As the sun began to break through, we began to see curiosities casting shadows. Soon, the gray wonderland was a white and blue wonderland, with the white disappearing fast. Spring was returning.
(Images taken in Brooklin, Maine, on April 9, 2025.)