Well thank you everyone. It is a pouring wet day here - heavy rain forecast for the next few days, followed by heavy snowfall. The ground is already saturated and the becks are full to bursting with snowmelt from the Moors above us. So what happens over the next few days is quite crucial. So it will be good to just look through what you all very kindly wrote yesterday as your Harbingers of Spring. Just reading through the list makes my heart lift a little - hope it does the same for you:
Here in the UK
Spring bulbs poking through the ground.
The first daffodil. forsythia and crocus - and the preponderence of the colour yellow - surely the colour of Spring.
Tadpoles appearing in the ponds.
The arrival of the chiff chaffs - although some apparently stay here all year with climate change (they'll have a shock this week).
And Tom points out that a doctor told him that sputum becomes cleaner as Spring progresses (not sure we wish to know that).
In Canada and the US
A lot of you spoke of the arrival of Summer birds - the Cranes feature heavily as did the robins (much bigger than ours) and the blackbirds
The piping up of the frogs.
The first Spring flowers.
The catkins.
The smell of the Aspen woods.
The last leaves on the trees being pushed off by the arrival of the new ones.
Migrating geese going South.
In Europe
A softness in the air
The quality of the light and the arrival of birdsong.
Cherry blossom in bud.
The arrival of martins and swifts
First cuckoo call.
Arrival of lapwings, geese and coltsfoot (Sweden)
Now, don't you feel a bit better reading through that regardless of the awful weather outside? Have a good day.
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20 comments:
We're lucky down in Kidderminster...No rain yet, so Turbo (dog!) and I have just had a lovely long walk to make the most of it. the wind has really got up, so something weatherwise is on it's way...
I do feel better. But there always is that knowledge within me...for all of my 63 years, spring has invariably followed winter.
Last year, I had a terrible time getting the seeds for my garden. I had waited too long, and everyone had a garden last year. Yesterday, I had to grab some things from the store, and I saw a display of seeds. I picked some up. They make me happy every time I look at them.
I should add a contribution to the signs of Spring from Australia.
I think many locals would say the sign of Spring (apart from the freesias, daffodils etc in the very English gardens in many places) is the wattles. There is a wattle to flower in each month of the year, but they begin flowering everywhere in late winter. The seasons here are quite different in different areas. Jean
What follows are the signs of the spring months from the Seven Seasons of the Kulin Nations of this part of Victoria around what is now Melbourne.
Poorneet Tadpole Season (September-October)
Temperatures are rising but the rain continues. Flax-lilies are flowering.
Pied Currawongs call loudly and often.
The flowering of plants such as Myrnong, (Yam Daisy), indicates the tubers are ready for eating.
Bulen-bulen (Superb Lyrebird) males have finished displaying.
Days and nights are of equal length.
The star Arcturus is seen on the northwestern horizon soon after sunset.
Koalas begin mating. Males bellow at night.
Yes a lovely long list of things to look forward to and even the rain falling on the leaves this morning made me smile.
I meant to note that the information on the Kulin Seasons above comes from The Bunjilaka Cultural Centre at the Melbourne Museum https://museumsvictoria.com.au/bunjilaka/
I don't know where the person who posted from Canada about signs of spring but there are none here. It is -17 C where I am and several feet of snow. Spring doesn't hit here until early April and the lake and river don't thaw until early/mid May.
No rush. Enjoy winter first.
I got up to snow on the ground and it is currently 28 degrees F. ... this is in S. Colorado! LOL It will remain cloudy and warm up to a toasty 37 degrees F. Luckily, it WILL warm up into the 50s the next few days!
To all things ... there is a season! Each season has it's own delights!!
Wishing you a wonderful day, Pat.
Thanks, Pat!
We've just got to hang on for a little bit longer for warmer days and finer weather.
Indeed Weave, Thanks for that
Gill
Thank you Jayview for your additions to the list. Yes Spring will arrive but not quite yet for us here in the UK.
Thanks everyne.
I love your list of the signs of Spring! I also enjoyed reading all the comments yesterday. So many of them were very poetic!
It is just a lovely thought to keep in mind during these days of dark and gloom, and maybe when Spring does arrive the news might be more cheery too.
Lovely, and by March...or April...it should happen.
Oh lordy, no sign of spring where I live in the USA (Indiana)... far FAR too early. We're still in the middle of winter. No crocus or daffodils peaking up for months yet. But they will, eventually... which is very reassuring when we're in the throes of lake-effect snow! :) ~Andrea xoxo
Love thinking about spring all around the world. Thank you!
I'm so looking forward to seeing the Cranes returning. We always wave to them high up, and welcome them home.
Keep smiling in spite of the weather.
It feels good just reading that list doesn't it. :-)
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