Hail Brave Hearts
The sleepy winter fades with the melting snow. Snug bugs and amphibians stir beneath the thawing soil. The deep freeze is vanishing as warm winds blow and temperatures rise. The freeze and thaw of this years winter has kept us alert to weather changes. Plunging minuses to optimistic pluses have been a earmark of this winters climatic fluctuations. Snow, thaw, snow, thaw, ice. On it goes, to April snowstorms and nesting birds, freeze, melt, but they sing anyway and herald in the new spring.
Slowly the ground wakes up and tiny hibernating creatures emerge from the soil. Ponds start to live again and sap runs in the trees. Our own stock of gifts from the natural bounty is nearly diminished. That last spoonful of jam has melted into the toast and the yummy, sugary fruit of last year is now devoured. Time for something new.
A huff of breath sounds in the wild as an awakening giant opens his eyes. Spring. The last of the belly fat, stored for winters long nap, has finally been absorbed. Thin and hungry and very large, but alive again, the sleepy beast puts a nose out. Is it cold out there? Hmmm. Thinking, thinking, what to do. How hungry? But the sun is shining, it feels OK, it will get warmer and there must be bugs somewhere.
The lumbering old beast sniffs the ground, but not far from home. It’s not time to venture far yet, just enough for a public appearance, a photo shoot, a pose to show off the massive hulk of this animal, an announcement of this years fame and fortune to some. A feat of his own development, as this aged animal reappears again to fight and bully and dominate his world. Smiling at us, we smile back at him and dub him “The Boss”
‘The Al Capone of Banff National Park’: veteran grizzly bear ‘The Boss’ still on top
He vanishes back to his home. The warm hollow of his den keeps him safe and warm until he’s able to find enough food to keep him warm during nights of minus temperatures. Then he can wander and show off.
His area is a protected land, but his life is wild and free. He roams where he will and survives as his species adaptation allows.
Soon the spring meadows will awaken with flowers. Bees will rise from winters’ sleep to swarm the fields for pollen and nectar. Honey in the honey pot, from natures garden of different species of wild flowers. Dandelion, fireweed, wildflower mix, the commonplace clover are sweet and bountiful, providing a source of nutrition for the beasts of the great wild and for us. We need this too. The sweet treat of wild honey, the beauty of the spring garden. The world awakens to new nutritional value for us and the food supply increases with fresh harvest.
Soon we will plant our seeds and find our recipes for jam and pie. Replenish the larder. That last spoonful of jam, a decadent delight will soon make way for this years treasures. Labours of love, the finest that we can eat, from the wild to your table, farm to table or your garden to table.
Spring is in the air, the treats are near
written by Dr. Louise Hayes
April 12.2026
