Spring is coming... some places in Ukraine

At least in the Dnepropetroesk- Zaporosia area, spring is coming...  we drove to Kiev (well to Boripol, where the airport is) yesterday. Garry almost forgot his coat as it was so nice in the village for the second, third day, it was up to 20 C (70 F) by the time we left at noon, after morning classes.

We are on our way to Ontario to help celebrate his parents 60th wedding anniversary this weekend. Garry was driving by his alfalfa field on the highway as we drove out of the village, and was saying that next week when he returns it may look green, when he stopped and ran out to check if the alfalfa was really growing already. He took this photo.

It's growing!

So we were on our way, as we drove we noticed that the winter wheat fields were not as green as the ones in the village, the grass on the side of the road was not as green, in fact as we got further along, there was some snow in the ditches. The fields had puddles, it was really wet looking and before we reached the Kiev region, the fields were outright snow- covered. They had a storm about a week ago, when we had a inch or so, they had piles, in fact there are piles all over the city waiting to melt!

out our car window!

So spring planting will be later here... Monday Garry saw a no till grain planter go past in the village, on it's way to the field. Maxim tried cultivating yesterday but still too wet. They plan to plant 10 hectares of alfalfa now as they got another 25 to rent.