Spring Is Coming

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Spring Is Coming

What a difference a week makes this time of year! The icy fingers of winter have loosened their grip and signs of life are all around us. Official spring arrives on March 20 but signs of early spring are abundant. Turn off the TV and take a walk outside. Let’s create our own reality show called C. S. I.: Coming Spring Investigation.

All the equipment this investigation requires is an alert set of eyes, ears, and nose.  Evidence that spring is arriving can be found in 3 categories: weather, plant and animal.

In fact, you do not need to step outdoors to hear the increased number of birds singing in the morning. Birds that have been quiet all winter, cardinals and robins, now start singing. Recent arrivals have joined in the choirs: redwing black bird, kill deer, song sparrow and doves. Keep your ears tuned to these songs because more birds will join the choirs daily. Birds are not the only singers; listen for spring peeper frogs around ponds and wetlands.

As you walk around notice the robins grazing in the yard. Wet weather brought earth worms to the surface. Worms can be seen on driveways and walks. One day is warm and the next cold providing robins with either fresh or frozen worm dinners.

One warm day last week we opened windows to let in fresh air and got a slew of house flies. House flies are another clue, albeit not my favorite, that spring is coming. Fly larva provides food for many song birds, so we need them, I guess.

The smell of the changing season can easily be detected by your nose. Skunks have been out of the den for weeks seeking food and a mate. Where the skunk goes the smell goes too. Farmers spread manure when the snow is gone, but the ground is still frozen. It is important to return these nutrients to the soil and fertilize the next crop.

Looking for plant clues, my willow trees release the hard shell that protects a grey velvety bud. Stalks of soft furry pussy willow are my favorite tell tale sign that spring will come. Also making an appearance in flower beds around Auglaize County are leaves from daffodils, tulip, resurrection lilies and holly hock.

One last clue that is a sure sign of spring are dandelion leaves. Although a pesky weed, the early leaves make for tasty greens on my dinner table. I am planning to wait until the leaves are a little larger, about a week, before I make up a mess of greens.

Birds singing, insects hatching, worm sightings, animal odors, leaves and buds emerging are the evidence we needed to make our case. Spring is coming. Case closed.

Allison Brady, Executive Director
Heritage Trails Park District of Auglaize County