Signs of spring
 

When I was young, the two main signs of spring for me were:

the miniature iris and tulips were blooming
and kittens were being born

What do/did you watch for in spring when you were a child?


Now that I am (much) older, I realize that probably most of the crops had already been planted, and all sorts of trees had done their thing by then - but the kittens and baby iris were what I watched for way back then.

Daffodils in March. There was an old farmhouse next to our house that had hundreds planted in the front yard. We had all our Easter egg hunts there among the daffodils. It was in Mississippi, so no snow.

We lived on the Pacific flyway...ducks and geese migratory path. So we would watch for the birds. They have better weathermen than we do.

Marcia

In Oregon where I grew up, I always waited for the daffodils in the field, new calves, and the lilac tree blooming. Here it is much different- I guess it’s warmer days, grandkids playing softball, earlier sunrises and the jasmine blooming for the first time. (It tends to bloom several times during the summer.)

Daffodils- we lived near a daffodil farm and I can remember walking into the fields and being surrounded by daffodils as far as the eye can see. My high school age cousins would get work picking the daffodils and once all the ones that were good enough to go to the florists had been picked those of us who were younger would go out and pick the rest to sell door to door. As I recall, the farm had one field that was about 50 acres all planted in the larger sized daffodils. That was a real treat.

Rob

When the juncoes (sp?) leave, we know it's really officially spring. They just left a couple of days ago. Also we live near a botanical garden. When we drive by and see the bulbs peaking up, it's spring.

Forsythia in bloom, rhubarb poking through the soil, lambs and calves in fields.

I love the series of events that herald spring.

Today my fruit trees are all in bloom, the Grape Hyacinths are still in bloom the early tulips (those bulbs are over 20 years old) are flowering. The lilac buds are swelling.

We had so much snow that the day my Mom let us wear our shoes outside was a big deal! I still remember that :)

Seeing the early small daffodils blooming means Spring is coming, although snow still comes but, they just keep blooming.

Pussy willows were spring for me.

I lived in Texas and loved the Bluebonnets and the Indian Blankets.

OMG As a kid I would go through the woods and find pussy willows. Loved them, now I never see them anymore.

I know it’s Spring when I see the first robin and I make sure to announce it to our kids and grandkids. After I’ve left this world, maybe when they see a robin they’ll think of me ! (maybe)

LOL That's BIG for me every, also. Love those little guys - I then know there's hope!!

Rhubarb growing and leaves sprouting on my held-over geraniums

Bluebonnets, azaleas blooming, and robins are what I watch for.

Here in Alaska, we look for different signs. We are anxiously awaiting our first hummingbirds (while looking out at the snow and rain!), and the birthing of the baby moose. So sweet! We can't plant for awhile yet, but watching buds come out renews our spirits!

That makes sense about the juncoes. sp? I still had a couple a few days ago. Now I have goldfinches. But I have a cold stiff breeze. Am confined to the quilting area with that wind.

For me it is the first blooms of the early peach blossom in the middle of Feb.

Daffodils and Iris, and Gladiolus and Irish Bells.

The sound of a meadowlark singing always makes my heart smile!

The bluebonnets and my hummers come back to my feeders.

The sight of lush green lawns, the sound of birds, the sight of clotheslines weighted-down with washing, and breaking-out a lighter, more colourful array of outerwear, was a sure sign that spring had arrived, as was swinging as high as the swing could go, while enjoying the warm sunshine on my skin.

It's spring when I can step outside and smell:
my neighbour burning something noxious (don't know where he finds all that stuff)
the pig barns over two concessions
the farmers cleaning out their barns after winter.
Long time country girl here - LOL!

Lambs, daffadiles, tulips, dandelions greens.

Some of those odors are unforgettable - - - -

I lived in the city so spring was seeing the first Robin then the yellow forsythia blossoms, and the pussy willows.

The snow melting! I grew up in Massachusetts and we stayed snowed under all winter. Spring meant snow melting, crocuses and daffodils popping up all over, and maybe not having to wear a coat outside.

Now I live in the South and Spring is everything flowering. I was in Memphis last weekend and the azaleas, dogwoods and other flowering trees and bushes were just going crazy! So much color.

Robins returning and calves being born. Poor robins returned to a blizzard this year.

I've lived on both sides of the US, grew up in NY so that was always grape hyacinth, forsythia, and daffodils...wild violets on the lawn. Sound of birds again after long silent winter. Smell of wet earth being warmed by the sun (it always seemed to rain a lot).

In AZ, I guess...the cactus bloom, and then it turns 100? I kind of miss real seasons.

the lilacs blooming and the Killdeer checking for nesting spots in our gravel drive mean it's REALLY Spring and not just a couple of days of good weather.