I note the transition to spring in small ways, quite often in the reappearance of familiar species of plants, insects, and other living creatures. I was delighted on Monday to discover that tiny Virginia Spring Beauty wildflowers (Claytonia virginica) have already started to push their way up from the forest floor in Prince William County. According to Wikipedia, the individual flowers bloom for three days, although the five stamens on each flower are only active for a single day.
On the same day, I spotted an Eastern Comma butterfly (Polygonia comma), the first full-sized butterfly that I have been able to photograph this year. I was not able to get very close to the butterfly, but you can see the beautiful orange pattern of its inner wings in the middle shot below.
The final image shows a Spotted Turtle (Clemmys guttata) that I spotted last week. This species seems to be found only in shallow marshy areas and I rarely encounter one, so it was exciting to be able to photograph it.
We all celebrate different signs of spring at this time of the year (or of autumn if you live in the Southern Hemisphere). What indications do you look for that signal the change of the season?
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Mike Powell 
One of the things I enjoy at this time of year, Mike are posts like this. People who are waking up to signs of spring and are delighted to share them. I’ve seen buds and blossoms, but yours is the first butterfly from anywhere I’d consider “north.” Very good to see.
I planted a coupe bags of mixed bulbs in the fall, but it’s been the old dependable lilacs that are showing me the first bits of green. I hope you have a great weekend.
Yes! I really need proper Spring to arrive. These grey, chilly days are really malingering and more than outstaying their welcome.
Isnt it fun watching Spring come forth Mike!
Blue Rock Horses Frederick County, Virginia bluerockhorses.com
I wondered how to answer your question in regard to the onset of autumn down south here in NZ, and after some thought I think it’s mostly the sight of coloured berries – initially hawthorn and rosehips. And if we’re in a native garden or out in nature we also see a variety of colours in native berries. We’ve found some interesting colourful native berries recently and I hope to share some photos on my blog in the not-too-distant future! The little flower and ‘comma’ are very pretty!
Thanks, Liz. When I was growing up, the change in the color of the foliage was one of the biggest markers of the arrival of autumn. In New England, where I grew up, we often had brilliant displays of bright red and yellow leaves.
New England is renowned for its autumn colour! What a lovely location in which to grow up. I’d love to visit there in the fall 🙂
Nice series of images Mike! Enjoyed seeing them!
As Liz said, we are starting to feel the first hints of the autumnal chill and changes, after a typically hot and try several weeks of summer. Love your second shot of the comma and the contrast with the dried leaves.
Thanks, Gary. Thanks to Liz and some others like you, I am much more conscious than I used to be that the the monthly seasons are experienced in a much different way in the southern hemisphere.
Spring beauties! They abound in a neighbors yard – almost a sheet of white 🙂 and the comma says, “Yes, it’s coming!!”