Spring!

When is the first day of Spring?

Astronomically speaking, the March equinox occurs when the Sun crosses the celestial equator on its way north along the ecliptic.  In the Northern Hemisphere, the March equinox is known as the vernal, or spring, equinox, and marks the start of the spring season.

In the Southern Hemisphere, this equinox is known as the autumnal, or fall, equinox and marks the start of the fall season; the vernal equinox for the Southern Hemisphere occurs in September.

The March equinox happens at the same moment across the world but is converted to local time. In 2015, it falls on March 20 at 6:45 P.M. EDT, 5:45 P.M. CDT, 4:45 P.M. MDT, and 3:45 P.M. PDT, for example.

Meteorologically speaking, however, in the Northern Hemisphere the official spring season always begins on March 1 and continues through May 31. Summer begins on June 1; autumn, September 1; and winter, December 1.

Weather scientists divide the year into quarters this way to make it easier to compare seasonal and monthly statistics from one year to the next. The meteorological seasons are based on annual temperature cycles rather than on the position of Earth in relation to the Sun, and they more closely follow the Gregorian calendar. Using the dates of the astronomical equinoxes and solstices for the seasons would present a statistical problem because these dates can vary slightly each year.

- from The Old Farmer's Almanac

It definitely feels like spring here in the woods! The last few days the temperatures have been in the high 30's, 40's and even 50's!!! Today is suppose to reach 64!!! We are taking our 3 mile walk each day and it feels so great to feel the warmth of the sun on my back. The air is pure and crisp and the snow is nearly all melted. Water is even running in the creek!

Who would have thought that someone who has lived in the Arizona desert nearly all her life could adapt so quickly to winter in Wisconsin? Actually all 4 "desert dwellers" who arrived here in October/early November made a very successful transition. I think two things were mainly responsible for our success: Proper winter clothing and boots and lots and lots of layers! AND I think we braced ourselves for something comparable to moving to the North Pole  (which to a desert dweller's imagination seemed a likely scenario).

So, we were pleasantly surprised when we stayed relatively warm and comfortable in our layers and managed not to break anything by falling on the ice or spinning the car off the road!!! And, quite honestly, winter didn't seem that long to me.

I remember when the 30's and 40's seemed so cold! And now it is a welcome, warm temperature. Today I even went looking for my shorts and capris!!! I will have to search the garage for my sandals, however!!!

We say goodbye to winter and welcome the warmth and the new life that is about to happen here in our woods.