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SOUTHERN OREGON JOURNAL SOUTHERN OREGON JOURNAL: Listening in on spring Comment By Peggy Dover for the Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Peggy Dover for the Mail Tribune Posted Mar. 22, 2015 at 12:01 AM By Peggy Dover for the Mail Tribune Posted Mar. 22, 2015 at 12:01 AM » Social News Though it’s felt like spring for the past several weeks, the calendar finally calls it official. Winter might have tiptoed in and out one week during December, but it was awfully quiet. Now, petals from the flowering cherry already float by my window as Oliver the cat watches juncos jig around after insects and seeds under the pink spread. Spring does good things for my morale. Spring lifts my chin, making it darned impossible to not want to write about a season with such a magnetic personality. Busyness happens during spring, like chores that need doing before summer’s heat. For me, there are trips planned, at least one writers’ conference, and reading through that fine cleaning schedule I crafted. With frenetic activity ahead, I wanted to get away and bask in gratitude for these stellar blue days, to leave the noise, and maybe hear what spring has to say for itself. What I discovered is, spring is a loud mouth. In all 24 hours of all seven days a week, Sunday morning is by far the quietest nonsleeping time in my neighborhood. No cars, no barking dogs, and no backyard mechanics. I took advantage of a recent Sunday morning when I stepped outside to retrieve my paper, my Mail Tribune newspaper. It had just rained. I couldn’t inhale enough of the scrubbed air. My lone frog buddy called from the pond. It may be a mucky pond, but it’s roomy. Hopefully he’ll find a taker. But the birds were anything but quiet. They were in full throat with nonpareils sprinkled atop the normal toot and whistle. Competing for air time and eager to be heard, they cawed and hooted over one another like some silly symphony. It was still musical, and it was the only sound. I hungered for simple nature-talk — those sounds you hear only when you separate from man and his mechanics. So this week I retraced the miles of a few weeks ago and visited River’s Edge Park near the Cole M. Rivers Fish Hatchery. No chili feed this time. The Army Corps of Engineers has some dandy free parks up there that are open year round. River’s Edge Park offers a large covered area, which can be reserved. Clean restrooms are nearby, along with a nice playground for young and old. Of course, the Rogue River is only a stone’s throw. I found an asphalt path snaking around and near the river. I followed it to a scenic bluff overlooking the water. Someone with forethought had put a napping bench there. I lay down and wondered who JD and MF were, if their love stood the test, or if their initials in wood were all that remained. I stayed until the sun’s rays burned through my light sweater, then moved down beside the river’s edge where a breeze over the water cooled my face. I listened for spring’s subtle changes, and watched as a loitering sun charged my upriver view with a thousand sparks one minute, then lowered the beam to reveal buffleheads diving. Next to the shallows where I sat, the same sun lit the riffles with brilliant, electric-looking rays, like something out of a '50s sci-fi. I examined a low opening in the earth, just right for an otter or muskrat. I knew whatever critter called it home would never meet me there. A lone angler in chest waders tried his skill downstream, and red-tailed hawks added exclamation marks after their calls, ready to get the party started. One hyped gray squirrel gave someone the business across the river. At one point, I turned, hearing heavy breathing behind me, but it was only the wind ruffling the tree tops. I love getting away from it all. I get so used to people noise, I forget what silence is and what fine counsel it gives. But nature is anything but quiet — especially in the springtime. Peggy Dover is a freelance writer in Eagle Point. Reach her at [email protected] By Peggy Dover for the Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Peggy Dover for the Mail Tribune Posted Mar. 22, 2015 at 12:01 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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