Nothing Says Spring Like Potatoes

Last night, Jim and I were walking downtown, and saw something unusual in a tree:

Do you see it there? Take a closer look:

Yes, friends, that is a potato nestled in those branches. Why, you ask, is there a potato in that tree? I will tell you: I have no idea.

Is this some sort of ritual I missed out on? Maybe someone's lunch, waiting to be microwaved? The stash of a confused squirrel? Perhaps it is Kalamazoo's answer to Punxsutawney Phil: "When potatoes appear in the trees, it means spring is around the corner."

No doubt about it, we are slowly sneaking up on spring. On Thursday, our yard looked like this:

When Bonnie and I were out yesterday, it was a balmy 36 degrees, with sunshine and blue sky:

Granted, underneath that sky, there was still snow on the ground. And today it's a chilly 31 degrees, with cloudy grey skies. But that is how spring works here in Michigan. We bounce back and forth, gradually working our way along that continuum of warmer temps and bluer skies, until one day, spring is here to stay.

I don't think it has anything to do with potatoes.