1st Sunday in Spring.

I know...I've just jinxed it, but there are a few things that have helped me to the conclusion that today, Sunday February the 20th, is the unofficial first Sunday of Spring 2011. First:

I like to think of this as our lowcountry version of the groundhog. I spotted this guy on Thursday of last week. Behold, the first gator of 2011! He (or she) has come up out of hibernation (or whatever they do when it is winter and they disappear) and is taking in some rays alongside a lagoon. Certainly this has to be as good a harbinger as some rodent seeing or not seeing it's shadow? Second:

My pieris is starting to bloom. I really love this plant. I have found that the buds stay pretty tight while it is still cold and wintery outside. Once the warming trend starts, they swell and develop the white bell-shaped flowers that remind me of lily-of-the-valley. Third:

My beet seeds have finally germinated! I put a little thumb tack there so you can see how small they are. And today, I saw my first little rainbow carrots starting to come up. I said a loud "thank you!!!!" because we were getting pretty worried that they weren't going to come up at all. The peas are getting really big as well:

I'll thin these to 3" apart...time for an Epicurious search for sprout salad. Might be tasty alongside the oven roasted chicken we have planned tonight. A spring chicken, if I may be so bold.