Green!!!!

Spring has come and the world has turned green here. It looks very much like a rain forest around our cities. 99% deciduous trees, all very much the same shade of green, all tall and skinny with canopy-shaped tops, with very little underbrush beneath them. Acres of ferns grow where the trees do not. High groundwater is prevalent. The fresh foliage is lush and beautiful. Lots of wetlands, streams, and standing ponds. We hear stories of the vast swarms of mosquitoes that will erupt soon. No ducks, geese, or swans. We see few birds besides a very few crows, magpies, and sparrows--and one flock of swallows--and those only in the cities. Such a big difference from Idaho. Tiny farms (large gardens) are everywhere. People are out hoeing their gardens now. From a distance, we can recognize tomatoes and potatoes. We imagine there are a lot of onions, beets, and cabbages planted, also. We even saw some peas staked in a long row.