10 Signs of Spring

Every year, between about the middle of February and the end of April, I start getting spring fever. It probably all really begins with Groundhog Day at the beginning of February, when I hope the groundhog doesn’t see his shadow. I guess that’s the day when I first really start thinking about spring being just around the bend.

But somewhere between the middle of February and the middle of March, there will be a random few days of spring weather. Suddenly, I’ll be able to go out with just a sweater on, or short sleeves and a jacket. The sun will shine, and we may even get a thunderstorm, uncharacteristic of the season. The warm weather will stick around just long enough to get hopes up and then….

The next week there will be frost on the windshield and snow will be in the forecast. And at that moment, I’m wishing for spring more than ever!

Waiting for spring shouldn’t have to be a long, drawn-out time of false hopes and disappointment. Meeting the new season and all the possibility that comes with it can be a magical time, full of child-like wonder. Here are some things to watch for and keep track of in the coming months, to help you make it through the rest of the winter, and the unpredictable temperatures that go along with it.

1. The sun will come up earlier. It may be a gradual change that you usually won’t notice, or a few rainy days may help it surprise you on the first sunny day to greet you in the morning. You might notice the light coming through your bedroom window as your alarm goes off, or the colors in the sky as you drive to work. Maybe you’ll have to put your sunglasses on more often as the earth tilts back toward the sun again. Watch for the sun in the morning. The more you notice it, the closer we are to being warm again. (Just don’t be too disappointed when daylight savings time sets it back again! It is still there!)

2. Happy little birds will sing. Slowly, they’ll start heading north again for the summer, and when they do you’ll surely notice their tale-tale signs. You’ll see the birds more as they build their nests for the eggs that are soon to follow. And in the morning, as that sun comes up, you’ll hear them chirping away – a noisy, noticeable sound after the winter hush. You should also be listening for those distant honking noises from the sky as the geese fly back to Canada in their flying Vs.

3. The grass will turn green. At first it may be dim – just a few patches of green surrounded by all the brown in the yard and fields. The green will peek out slowly, barely noticeable in a sea of gray, dormant trees, empty fields and “dead” lawns. There will probably even be times when just when you think you start to notice the life returning to the ground, it will be covered in snow or frost again. Keep in mind that even the snow is bringing more life, and that grass is going to get greener and greener as the winter gives way to spring.

4. Trees will bud. Again, this isn’t going to be that noticeable at first. You may have to actually go out and inspect a tree limb to see it. Ever so slowly, what looks like the end of a stick will grow into a funny little shape. Eventually, that funny little branch will change to a different color – often a deep red or pink – still hardly noticeable. Then one day, a happy little bud, a vibrant color, will greet you! This is a sure sign that spring will be soon, for when the new season finally hits, that bud is going to explode into a blossom, a flower, or even a tiny pastel shade of green baby leaf!

5. Flowers will bloom. Watch for them! Crocuses and lilies are some of the earliest announcements of spring, often popping up out of the ground to surprise you even before the last frost or snow. Sprinkled in the increasingly green grasses will be tiny spring beauties, little blue stars, deep purple wild violets and fluffy pink and white clover! Next, brightly colored tulips will begin to open and by that time you should be seeing the green grass and flowering trees without even having to look for them!

6. Egg shells will fall. If you spend any time under the trees or outdoors, have a closer look. You may notice delicate baby blue, white, or light pink speckled eggs shells, cracked in half, lying on the ground. Baby birds won’t be far from these broken little eggs, ugly and hungry, waiting for those birds that have been singing in the morning to bring them their dinner!

7. Little lambs will bleat! The animal world, which may have seemed to disappear for the last month or two, will return in force! You’ll smell skunks, spot deer, and might even notice little varmints running around your yard again. When you drive past a farm, watch for the little baby livestock – most noticeably baby calves, lambs and horses first learning to walk, then run and play!

8. White shoes will appear! As we near Easter, fashion will be changing! Long before we’re comfortable with shorts and sandals, open-toed shoes and practical outdoor clothing will begin to appear in catalogues and store displays. People will be dressing up for Easter and preparing for spring and summer weddings. Get ready to see more vibrant colors and lighter shoes on store shelves and on the people walking down the street – maybe even in your closet!

9. The world will be spruced up! As people begin to get antsy for spring you’ll be seeing them outdoors more often. Hedges will be trimmed, mulch put into flower beds, drives and sidewalks swept clean, window-shades thrown open, and fields and gardens tilled and planted in neat little rows. This is perhaps one of the most exciting signs of spring, because once those crops are in the ground, there is no going back!

10. You might get hot! Dare we say it? That heater you’ve had on in your car is going to get switched over to the air conditioner before you even think you’re ready for it or need it! Increasingly unpredictable temperatures on the cusp of spring will probably leave you dressed in a long-sleeve sweater on a day with a high in the 70s! Walking to the mailbox might actually even make you break a sweat in the warm sun, something you’ve become unaccustomed to in the winter months! Get ready! That’s going to be the norm as summer begins to approach!