THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc. DATE: Sunday, March 3, 1996 TAG: 9603010247 SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 02 EDITION: FINAL COLUMN: Coastal Journal SOURCE: Mary Reid Barrow LENGTH: Medium: 93 lines
Spring arrives for good later this month, but I don't think the season could possibly surpass the eloquence of the fleeting visit that spring paid to us last weekend.
The sun warmed every shiver of winter chill out of the atmosphere, luring us all out of winter sweats and into shorts and T-shirts. It was a February gift from the gods that comes only rarely to our area where despite occasional beautiful warm days, the cold ocean usually keeps a nip in the air.
For us, the surprise February weekend was enhanced by such a poetic moment on Saturday that I don't think I will ever experience a foreshadowing of spring quite like it again.
We had opened the windows wide to let in the warmth. My grandson, daughter and a friend of hers were visiting and they helped me install new stereo speakers, a birthday gift from my son in Atlanta. To test the new sound, the stereo volume was turned up high.
The ``Four Seasons'' by Antonio Vivaldi with Jean-Pierre Rampal on flute and the Franz Liszt Chamber Orchestra was the melodious test CD. Appropriately ``Spring'' is the first concerto in the work and its ebullient sounds were resounding through the neighborhood.
Suddenly, we heard the enthusiastic song of a bird outside in a tree. The little creature, a mockingbird, I feel sure, sang along unrestrained and full-throated to the sweet tones of Rampal's flute.
We were spellbound. We all realized that something unique had occurred that warm spring day, a coming together of man and nature that we may never experience again.
The story became even more special when I read up on ``The Four Seasons.'' I realized the mockingbird was inspired by ``Song of the Birds,'' a major part of Vivaldi's effusive ``Spring'' concerto and which he wrote with bird songs in mind!
The perfect spring weekend in February, no less, actually began for me on Friday when I walked into the fish market and got my first surprise, the sight of gleaming orange shadroe lined up on a tray in the case.
Small and not as plump as shadroe are later in the season, the roe were still irresistible. To me shadroe is the heart of a perfect spring meal and the roe proved to be a delicious introduction to a perfect spring weekend.
The fact that spring was truly with us for a few days also was verified over the weekend when I looked out at the thistle feeder where male gold finches were spiraling around the cylinder, stair-stepped on every perch. The males' drab olive green winter coloring had begun to change. For the first time, I saw a golden yellow tinge peeking through their feathers, the golden yellow that make them the most brilliant birds of spring and summer.
Robins and cedar waxwings arrived over the weekend, too, and removed the last signs of winter by stripping the bushes of the rest of their red berries. Walking around the yard that day, I found that tiny buds on trees and plants were emerging, ready to replace those cold-weather ornaments.
Minaret-shaped buds tipped the ends of sassafras twigs, yellow-tinged ones poked up among the daffodil leaves, and subtle pink ones lined the blueberry branches. Yellow jasmine, an early spring bloomer, was prepared to burst forth with the arrival of a longer warm spell.
A walk on the beach had my grandson barefoot and wet up to his waist. He raced up and down the sand with an exuberant golden retriever, both exhilarated by the rare February opportunity.
Shells were scattered along the strand line, among them a live lady's ear shell, another first for me. The snail's big foot extended well beyond the petite shell and belied its dainty name.
None of these sweet signs of spring, however, matched that magical moment when the mockingbird dueled with Jean-Pierre Rampal's flute for the purest tones.
P.S. To the early morning car pool in the Trumbull Court, Darien Court and Northvale drive area: Thank you for your letters of concern for the black cat with white feet that you've seen wandering around. I hope that its new collar and bell means it really has found a home!
MARITIME PAINTINGS, an exhibit by local artist Susan Check, opens Tuesday at the Life-Saving Museum of Virginia, 24th and Oceanfront.
HOW DOES YOUR GARDEN GROW, the 8th annual Tidewater Garden Symposium, will take place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday at Norfolk Academy. Topics include Creating a Garden that is Reflective of You and What's New and Hot in Perennials. The $35 fee includes lunch and handouts. Call 422-0789.
THE MOON is full Tuesday night. MEMO: What unusual nature have you seen this week? And what do you know
about Tidewater traditions and lore? Call me on INFOLINE, 640-5555.
Enter category 2290.
Or, send a computer message to my Internet address:
mbarrow(AT)infi.net. ILLUSTRATION: Drawing by WALTER FERGUSON/Reader's Digest Book of North
American Birds
The mockingbird can imitate more than 30 birdsongs, along with such
other sounds as squeaky hinges, barking dogs and chirping crickets.
by CNB