Signs You Know It’s Spring in Southeast Minnesota

Sunday marked the first full day of spring, and even though there are rumors of a spring snow storm that could possibly hit our area later this week, I noticed a few signs confirming that winter is over.

My wife and I headed out on a three-mile walk yesterday afternoon, and the temperatures we encountered pretty much summed up southeast Minnesota in the spring: It was nice, and almost a little hot) when you were walking with the wind and the sun was shining, but it was a bit nippy when you were walking into the wind and the sun went under a cloud.

But we did notice several telltale signs that spring is at hand: First, there are visible signs of everyone's lawn starting to green up and spring back to life. My grandpa used to say that the first thunderstorm of the spring (which we had last Tuesday morning) would really help things turn green each year. Something about the nitrogen being released with the lightning, if I recall. But sure enough, there were signs of green in just about everybody's lawn yesterday.

Secondly, we noticed the lone maple tree in our front yard has sprouted buds again. We'd done some pruning last fall, and were wondering if we'd cut a little too much off our little tree. But it survived, and has already started the yearly process of producing leaves.

Thirdly, we noticed the perennials in our front yard had poked through the ground and had opened in the Sunday afternoon's sunshine. They'd been planted by previous owners of the house, so I'm not even sure which plant they are (although someone said the purple flower was a crocus) but seeing them pop out of the dull, dreary brown and grey garden (long before we get it planted again for the season) is always a nice surprise.

Did you get out and enjoy the first day of spring yesterday?