Spring Equinox 2025: In the Muck

Spring Equinox occurs officially at 2:01 am PT on March 20^th, 2025.

In some places, this is the beginning of Spring, but where I live, it’s more like mid-Spring.

In Port Townsend, Washington we haven’t had enough rain yet—the winter didn’t bring the normal amount and Spring rains have not settled in with their regular pattern… Luckily, we still have time as Spring can last through “Junuary” around here!

Even so, there are quite a few places on the land that are mucky! Down by the compost bins at the bottom of the mulch beds, I could lose a garden clog if I’m not careful.

There is standing water near the comfrey circle that the native Ninebark and basket willow I planted are very happy to drink in.

The leafy bower path that winds by Green Woman and down into the young alders is also quite soft in many places.

And walking the forks path on the nearby DNR lands, I have to dance around and carefully pick my way through very muddy pathways.

I lived in Vermont for a few years in the 90’s, out a ways from town on dirt roads. I remember a Spring where I had to drive really fast in between the muddy ruts up a hill, just hoping I’d have enough speed to make it through before the muck sucked me in! There we had 3 seasons: Mud, Construction, and Winter!

In general, I welcome the mud.

It’s a sign that the earth cannot take in all the water quickly, which indicates to me that, with this water stored, we will have enough water to make it through our droughty summer… So, the mud is a healthy sign at this time of year.

This reminds me of our small garden pond. It’s pretty shallow—just a foot or so—and just below the water you can see the mud (silt, watered-down earth).

And out of this mud grow the most beautiful pond lilies!

And right now, the skunk cabbage is popping up out of the mud at the bottom of the ravine path—that’s the picture at the top of this post.

Isn’t it amazing??

It will be up even farther when this is posted. I think they look like lanterns keeping vigil.

I wonder if remembering the lilies and skunk cabbage growing out of the muck can help me in these difficult political times.

Is it possible that just as we need to experience mud season to have a healthy earth, that we need to go through these times as a country to learn how to bloom and have a healthy society?

Maybe we can learn to be care-full of where we put our feet.

Maybe we can learn to trudge through the muck and keep going, maybe even dance?

Maybe we can watch for what is growing out of the mud and be reminded that the beautiful lantern or flower need the muck to grow.

Can we trust this muddy path? Trust that light and blooms will come again?