When does spring begin? Many of us in the Northern Hemisphere measure the seasons using the astronomical calendar and this year spring begins on the 19th of March, i.e. the vernal equinox. For those who use the meteorological calendar, however, spring began on the 1st of March.
I generally use something other than a calendar when I measure the change of seasons. I feel the beginning of spring when the weather starts to warm up and the daylight begins to linger a bit longer. I can feel nature stirring, preparing for new life in the animal and plant kingdoms.
One of the signs of spring that I look for is the emergence of early spring flowers. This weekend I am cat sitting for my friend Cindy and her husband Michael, who are out of town on a trip to Texas. Cindy, my photography mentor and fellow photographer, has a wonderful garden that I have featured in this blog numerous times. The last couple of weeks I have checked out her garden, waiting patiently for the first flowers to appear.
I was delighted on Thursday to see that a tiny purple crocus was blooming amid all of the leaf clutter. It was only a single bloom, but it somehow filled my heart with joy and excitement. For me, spring has begun.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Mike Powell 