image from Becky's Greenhouse 

     Good morning, and WOW it is 38F(3C) at 8:00 AM.  High today of 52F(11C) partly cloudy and windy.  Winds NW at 25 to 40 MPH Winds occasionally gust over 60 MPH.  Cold front coming so that is why the wind.  Tomorrow with the cold front it will be 31F(-05C) and a low of 14F( -10C).  That will be more seasonable what the temperature should be.  Now the question is with this cold front, is March coming in like a Lion or Lamb?

Australia family and friends at Sale Victoria Saturday March 1  will have a high of 78F(23C). partly cloudy sky but humidity is at 89%.  I will have to ask them how this will feel. 

Family at Cairns, Queensland Aust will have another warm, humid day Saturday March 1st with temperature at 87F(30C)   Looking at the weather map there is activity weather in the ocean in the Coral Sea.  I will check with them if that is affecting them on their trip? 

What are you doing today?  Hopefully enjoying this mild weather, we are having.  We didn’t get plant plugs for two weeks when it was so cold, but this week we got three weeks of plugs.   That is the picture you see.   12 boxes with 31 plug trays.  I usually don’t count the plants, but I will let you know how many I must plant. 10,024 individual little plants to put into dirt before the next order comes in which will be next week.  Knowing the number is doing what I thought it would with my mind, getting me anxious to get them planted.  Just know I will.  I will be hitting this hard for the next 3 days.  I will share with you how I am doing.  Spring has started for us, but I do get a lot of enjoyment out of planting and watching the little plants grow.  Just like you do when you plant in your garden. 
I better get to planting.  Till next time, this is Becky Litterer, Becky’s Greenhouse, Dougherty Iowa [email protected] 641-794-3337 cell 641-903-9365 Facebook Becky Kerndt Litterer, Becky’s Greenhouse 

image from publicdomainpictures.net picture of a bee on a ​Calendula.

​Looks like another  awesome day.  Clear, blue sky now at 8:00 AM but clouds will be moving in.  Temperature at 34F(1C) with a high today of 51F(10C) It will be windy so that will change how the temperature feels.  Enjoy, stay warm, stay safe

Australia family and friends Feb 28 high today of 82 with  70% rain.  If you remember our summers here the humidity will be high too 90%.  Stay cool, stay safe

Family at Cairns, Queensland Australia is having the same as yesterday.  They are to have 87F(30C) with 82% humidity.  Stay cool, stay safe.

I found this article about having plants in your garden for pollinators.  I am excited to say I will have most of these here.  Sunflowers are the best grown from seeds.  I will have new bulk seeds for sunflowers not the plants.  The rest listed I will have here as plants.  Give these a thought for the bees especially.  I need to have lots planted around for the bees we have in the area. 
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The Best Flowers for a Vegetable Garden to Attract Pollinators and Deter Pests
Choosing flowers for a vegetable garden? Try these 7 that not only look great, but also bring big benefits with them.  By Amanda MacArthur
Emily Dickinson wrote this:
To make a prairie it takes a clover and one bee,
One clover, and a bee.
And revery.
The revery alone won’t do,
If bees are few.
When Emily Dickinson wrote this poem in the mid-1800s, she may or may not have been thinking about flowers for a vegetable garden. There’s really no way to say. She is, however, absolutely correct in that without bees and other pollinators, we would have a lot fewer fruits and vegetables in this world. Melons, squash, cucumbers, blueberries, cranberries, and cherries would all be lost without pollinators. I’ve seen tomato plants grow sky high without growing a single tomato.
If you want a healthy, abundant garden, you gotta get some bees in there. To “bee” fair, butterflies, bats, birds, and beetles can also act as pollinators. While the flowers of fruits and vegetables can attract pollinators, it’s helpful to make your garden more welcoming to these beneficial beings by planting flowers that you know will attract them. As a bonus, if you plant the right flowers for a vegetable garden pollinator party, some of those flowers will also deter pests, too.
If you remember back to Biology 101, you’ll recall that there are male and female flowers. Male flowers produce pollen, which female flowers need to produce fruits. Pollinators searching for nectar carry this pollen from one flower to another, thereby fertilizing gardens and even large commercial crops.
Bees are, of course, the most well-known pollinators. They’re also the most purposeful and efficient in seeking out nectar and pollen, but butterflies and hummingbirds that feed on the nectar of flowers can also act as pollinators. Even small insects can spread pollen in their purely accidental, though not inconsequential, way.
By some estimates, bees are responsible for about one-third of all the food we eat, and possibly much more. Clearly, they’re important for your garden. And for every garden.
So, what flowers for a vegetable garden should you grow? Well, here’s something cool. It’s actually a really easy thing to do, and it will also make your garden extra beautiful. Native flowers are ideal, but within that, look for lots of color and variety. The more you can offer, the more pollinators will come your way.
1. Sunflowers. Sunflowers are especially attractive to pollinators, and you can eat the seeds when the season comes to an end. Just beware that sunflowers aren’t always nice to the plants around them. Pole beans and potatoes are particularly impacted by sunflowers, although tomatoes, cucumbers, and peppers tend to grow well with them.
2. Chives. This herb is the extra bonus point in your search for flowers for a vegetable garden. First of all, chives are a delicious addition to so many meals. They’re also incredibly easy to grow. The purple flowers attract bees, and the herb repels pests like aphids.
3. Lavender. The gorgeous purple and blue lavender flower is a favorite of bees and butterflies. It’s also a perennial in most growing zones, AND it tastes great in desserts.
4. Calendula. Stick with me here. Pests love calendula. Why is that good? The flower attracts aphids and whiteflies. That can be beneficial when those pests decide to enjoy your calendula rather than your tomatoes or squash. Plus the flower also attracts ladybugs, which will eat said aphids and whiteflies. The gorgeous orange and red blossoms of the calendula also attract bees and butterflies.
5. Marigold. Pollinators love marigolds. Soil nematodes do not love marigolds. In fact, marigolds release a substance that neutralizes nematode eggs.
6. Nasturtiums. These colorful flowers come in all shades of reds, yellows, and oranges, and they’re so easy to grow that you can pretty much ignore them. They tend to lure pests away from your other vegetables, but they also repel aphids and whiteflies. Bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds all love nasturtiums, and they’re edible for humans, too.
7. Mint. The strong scent of mint is a deterrent to many insects, and although mint is known for its refreshing leaves, it does produce little pods of white and purple flowers. Bees love mint, as do ladybugs. It’s also perennial, and it’s easy to grow; you can literally ignore it and still harvest pounds of the leaves.
When you’re deciding on flowers for a vegetable garden, think about these and how much they can bring, not just in terms of color (and flavor in some cases), but how they’ll function in the overall biome of your garden.
Taken from https://foodgardening.mequoda.com/daily/vegetable-gardening/the-best-flowers-for-a-vegetable-garden-to-attract-pollinators-and-deter-pests
Till next time this is Becky Litterer, Becky’s Greenhouse, Dougherty Iowa [email protected]  641-794-3337  cell 641-903-9365  Facebook Becky Kerndt Litterer, Becky’s Greenhouse 

image from riversidesheetmetal.net

         With warmer weather, with sun shining it surely makes people happier.  It is easier for Larry with the amount of wood he used when it was below zero.  He finds that very helpful.  Temperature at 34F(2C) but look at this warming up to 52F(11C) All I am going to say is enjoy.  And stay safe.

Australia family and friends today (Feb 27th) will be 79F(27C) but looks like their humidity will be down to 75% stay cool, stay safe

Family in Cairns, Queensland, Australia will have the same as yesterday.  86F(30C) with 84% humidity.  Evelyn said that the weather there is almost always the same.  Stay cool, stay safe.

Powell, Wyoming with our daughter Jen will be like ours high today of 47F(8C) also enjoy and stay safe

Are you wondering what the joke is with the title today?  When is a roofer a plumber?  This isn’t a joke, but we found this out when Evelyn was adding a carport to her house and the roof of that was added into the roof of the house.  She told us she had to have the plumber do the work on adding the roof.  She said anytime water is involved you need a register plumber to do the work. 
With the building project she had to get a registered plumber to do the work. She had to go through the Shire to get this paperwork approved.  What is a shire? Shire is the most common word in Australia for the smallest local government areas by population. The states of New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland and Western Australia use shire for this unit. South Australia and Tasmania use district. A shire has the same powers as the next largest units, the town and city. In NSW, the expression 'The Shire' commonly refers to the Sutherland shire.
If you don’t get a registered plumber to do the work, then the final project isn’t approved, and you can’t get insurance.  It makes sense that the roof work would be done by a plumber because in Australia water is very important.  Many homes have ways of catching the runoff water from the roofs to use as their water source. 
Evelyn and Tom have city water, but their boys do not on their blocks (which we would call acreages).  This is how Larry describes the catching of water. It is hard to find good quality of water in Australia, so they catch rainwater off their roofs and store it in above ground tanks.  The tanks hold from 3000 to 5000 gallons. This works for them because it doesn’t freeze there, cold morning for them is just frost.  The outlet for the house water tank is about 2/3 way down on the tank, which leaves the bottom 1/3 for fire protection. 
So, this is why a plumber becomes a roofer for them in Australia.
Till next time this is Becky Litterer, Becky’s Greenhouse, Dougherty Iowa [email protected] 641-794-3337   cell 641-903-9365   Facebook Becky Kerndt Litterer or Becky’s Greenhouse 

image from fascinatewithzea.com 

      GOOD morning and it is a grand morning.  Clear, blue sky and would you believe the temperature at 10:00 Am is 40 F(4C).  Unbelievable from one week ago.  All I can say is enjoy.  Stay safe

Australia family and friends in Sale is going to be hot.  Temperature at 92F(33C). They had rain humidity is also high. Stay cool, stay safe.

Family members that are in Cairns, Queensland, Australia today you will be 86F(30C) with high humidity.  You also stay cool, stay safe. 

Powell, Wyoming looks like having similar temperatures as we are.  So, their snow is also melting.  Enjoy, stay warm, stay safe.
​
I found this article about loving your garden.  I know many of my gardeners do, and how it affects their life.  Enjoy the article.  Soon you will be working in your garden.  I am working in mine in the greenhouse.  Plant plugs will be here tomorrow, and here I go. 
Love Your Garden, Love Your Life
By Amanda MacArthur
I LOVE My Garden
People feel a lot of ways about their gardens, whether it’s the delight of tomatoes turning red, anguish over squash vine borers, or satisfaction in watching a perennial garden change with the seasons. If you love your garden on most days, you’re happy to embrace the good and the bad, right?
Today’s piece “I LOVE my garden,” by Jean Morgan is not just about the love of gardening, but also plays the tune of the old adage, “you’ll never work a day in your life if you do something you love.”
“Whenever there is a spot of dirt big enough for a plant, I show up at Mikl and Eve’s nursery in Boulder and yell, “Hi, it’s the drunk in a bar!”—and get one of every native I don’t already have!” writes Morgan. “I love to visit them each month to see what’s blooming, so I can have different garden interests the whole season.”
As a former mostly-vegetable gardener, I appreciate this story a lot, because I too have evolved over the years to adore my ever-changing perennial flower gardens and rolling into the gardening center all season long to pick out the bloomers. I love my garden more each year because I always find a flower out in my travels and say, “hey! I haven’t planted THAT one yet!” and right onto my “plant next year” list it goes. Gardening really is a patience game, isn’t it? But today’s story is a nice reminder that if you love your garden, it’s worth it!
Love Your Garden Even More
This story comes from our archive that spans over 30 years and includes more than 130 magazine issues of GreenPrints. Pieces like these that inject the joy of gardening into everyday life lessons always brighten up my day, and I hope it does for you as well. Enjoy!
I LOVE My Garden
By Jean Morgan of Louisville, CO
My garden started in the early 1970s on a tiny lot in Louisville, Colorado, when my neighbor, Grace, gave me some hen-and-chicks. I still grow and adore them (they remind me of her) even though my garden has evolved into a mostly native, xeric display, thanks to the availability of local natives these days. And this garden is packed! Whenever there is a spot of dirt big enough for a plant, I show up at Mikl and Eve’s nursery in Boulder and yell, “Hi, it’s the drunk in a bar!”—and get one of every native I don’t already have! I love to visit them each month to see what’s blooming, so I can have different garden interests the whole season.
When people come to my yard, sometimes I can only recall the Latin name of a plant and not the English. Folks think I’m really smart. Not so, only forgetful!
When I hear people say, ”I have to go work in the garden,” I smile. That’s not true for me! How many times have I gotten hungry while gardening, decide it must be time for breakfast—and go inside to discover it’s 11:30?! ❖
Taken from By Jean Morgan of Louisville, CO, published originally in 2020, in GreenPrints Issue #123
Till next time this is Becky Litterer, Becky’s Greenhouse, Dougherty, Iowa [email protected] 641-794-3337   cell 641-903-9365  Facebook Becky Kerndt Litterer, Becky’s Greenhouse 

image from Becky's phone  

       Good morning  what a great day on Sunday.  Highs in the 40F(6C) on Sunday.  Today predicted to be 54F( 12C)  what difference a week makes as last week we were below zero.  All I can say is enjoy.  It is going to be cloudy, so will not seem as warm as yesterday when the sun was shining. 

Australia family and friends is to have 78F(24C) today.  Special family members are visiting in Cairns, Queensland, Aust. That is located nearer to the equator so north.  They will experience 86F (30C).  That will be warm because the humidity is high at 91 %.  But it is tropical, so they know it is going to be warm, and humid. 
​
I will post what we found out the answer to my mystery.  I had so much fun with what everyone wrote.  Here are some of them.
Coyotes or fox
Pheasant
Australia friend, still baffled
Dougherty friend, If it isn’t not Larry definitely not rabbits or cats or dog.  I would say deer
Too wide for raccoon
A small deer/doe possibly
Here is probably the answer when you have a Naturalist answer this mystery
Deer!  Then they scratched around through the snow to try and find some food on the grass.
Then the next question I asked was why the last pictures were so blue?  Our daughter Jen is a  college photographer instructor, she said.”
Early morning light is blue, “ I said, not taken at noon but on the north side of the house.”
Now here is the real answer to the blue color.   Light is made up of different wavelengths of colors.  When it is all mixed together, we get the sunlight white light we are used to. But Different things can obstruct different wavelengths thus we have the golden hour in the morning and the color of light is different in the shade.  Because of the whiteness of snow, we see more blue colors than when there is grass or dirt.  Jen wrote this.
I must report that this fun mystery post saw that I had over 1000 hits.  It is telling me people are looking for something new and fun on Facebook.  Thanks to all that looked at these posts.  Now to come up with another mystery for you to solve. 
Till next time this is Becky Litterer, Becky’s Greenhouse, Dougherty, Iowa [email protected]  641-794-3337  cell  641-903-9365  Facebook Becky Kerndt Litterer or Becky’s Greenhouse
 

image from ar.inspiredpencil.com 

      What a lovely afternoon.  Sun has lots of power and temperature is warming up to 16F.  Enjoy and stay safe.  I found this article about watering cans and gardening.  Hope you enjoy it. 
​
As the kids say, “I found my people” when I read today’s story from Barbara Baker, where she shares her joy of gardening in the form of a watering can and rain barrel. As a self-professed watering can collector, I have stared down the face of many watering cans. Some watered too aggressively, others with spouts and caverns too small. There is, might I say, a mighty fine collection of watering cans at my house, and I really do believe they all have their unique purposes.
I haven’t gone so far as to name them yet, but maybe that day will come and I won’t be ashamed to say so. They are, after all, my trusty friends who I wake up to on mornings, to saturate seedlings and tender container gardens. When my vertical lettuce garden is showing signs of heat stroke in late Spring, I know a shower from my trusty friends will give them life again.
In today’s story, Watering Cans and Rain Barrels, author Barbara Baker shares my kinship with watering cans, as well as her rain barrels, which she uses to fill them. It brought me great joy to read this one, which is why I’m eager to share it with you today in our happy season.  Written by Pat Stone
Watering Cans and Rain Barrels  And the peace they bring me.
By Barbara Baker
I have become a lover of watering cans. And of rain barrels. As the dawn begins to creep through the drawn curtains, I resist the urge to snuggle under the covers for a few more minutes of early morning dreaming. The cat is meowing for breakfast and the birds have begun their morning songs. But it is the lure of the rain barrel and the watering cans that gets me out of bed.
In comfortable old garden clothes and sloppy sneakers, I carry my battered watering cans around the corner of the house to the rain barrel. It is a nondescript black plastic container with a spigot near the bottom. The open top is covered by screening. When the water level is high enough, the screening provides a place for birds to take baths and for them and chipmunks to get a drink.
As I place a watering can under the spigot and turn the handle, my morning reverie begins. The gentle sound of water beginning to fill the can centers me. I am aware of the smells around me. This morning it is the fragrance of summer honeysuckle and pine. I breathe in the coolness of morning and fill my lungs with the clear morning air. I close my eyes, breathe, and listen to the water splashing ever so slowly into the old can. A prayer comes. Sometimes a new thought brings a smile or a tear.
When the can is full, I repeat the process with the other can waiting patiently to be filled. With each one a deeper peace invades my soul.
Then it is time to begin the trek to the garden. A can in each hand, I straighten and begin to cross the yard to the waiting plants. No sound of spraying hoses or oscillating swish of a sprinkler here—there is only the slow, careful dripping of tiny clear drops on dry earth. It is a long process, this system of watering. I walk carefully between the rows or reach up to the hanging pots. Containers on sawhorses and the raised beds each have their turn. When one watering can is emptied, another gets put to the task. Some mornings I have to return to the rain barrel and repeat the filling process. I know the plants are grateful for the water. I am grateful for the time to slow down, savor, and awaken all my senses. Of course, there are mornings when I want to hurry and speed things along. It is then I remind myself of the preciousness of being in the moment and still enough to become aware. My plants did not hurry to sprout. Neither will they hurry to grow, blossom, and bear fruit. It will all take time.
In this world of instant things, it is good to take time to tend a garden with a rain barrel and old watering cans. ❖
By Barbara Baker, published originally in 2018, in GreenPrints Issue #114. Illustrations by Christina Hess.
Taken from https://foodgardening.mequoda.com/daily/gardening-life/joy-of-gardening/the-joy-of-gardening-comes-in-a-watering-can
Till next time, this is Becky Litterer, Becky’s Greenhouse, Dougherty, Iowa [email protected]  641-794-3337  cel 641-903-9365  Facebook Becky Kerndt Litterer, or Becky’s Greenhouse 

images from Becky's phone

     ​IT IS warming up.  The sky is fully clear and temperature at 12:30 PM is at 13 F      ( -9C) high today of 17F(-8C) low tonight will be above zero at 8.  It will only get warmer.  ENJOY, stay warm, stay safe.

Now Australia family and friends are also having it warm up but for them it is hot. 91F(32C) with 91% humidity.  They are +15 degrees above the average daily high.  Stay cool, stay safe. 

Jen at Powell Wyoming is already experiencing warmer temperatures as they are to have a high of 41F(5C).  ENJOY, stay warm and stay safe. 
​
I am having fun with all of you helping me to figure out the mystery of these tracks.  I took some closer pictures for you to see if you can help me.  Larry has an idea.  But I love the ones that thought he did something to fool us.( it would be his nature for sure) 
Thanks, and enjoy the new pictures.  I am so enjoying all your answers.
Till next time this is Becky Litterer, Becky’s Greenhouse, Dougherty, Iowa [email protected]  641-794-3337  cell 641-903-9365  Facebook Becky Kerndt Litterer or Becky’s Greenhouse   

image from Becky's phone 

Good morning, another cold morning.  -7 at 8:00 AM but it is going to warm up.  One more night of below zero temperatures, then the warming up to 15 degrees on Friday, Sat 28 degrees, and then on Sunday 35 degrees leading into next week in the 40’s.  We will so appreciate those temperatures.  Stay warm, Stay safe.

Australia family and friends on Friday they will have 77F(25C) , Saturday will be 91F(32C) and warm for them on Sunday.  Stay cool, stay safe

Powell, Wyoming is having a warmup now.  Today at 28F, and then the weekend is in the mid 30’s.  Stay warm, stay safe

I have a mystery for you to help me with.  What caused this in the snow overnight?  I have an idea and will share it tomorrow.  I taught Elementary Science in Greene in 1976-1978.  One of my favorite units of study was tracks.  Seeing this made me remind me of that teaching.  Help me out and post what you think it is.  Thanks, till next time this is Becky Litterer, Becky’s Greenhouse, Dougherty, Iowa [email protected]  641-794-3337  cell  641-903-9365   Facebook Becky Kerndt Litterer, Becky’s Greenhouse 

image from clipart-library.com 

       AGAIN, below zero temperatures this morning but only at -7.  Warming up.  We had the cold weather advisory.  Schools are open today.  We have another very cold day today and a couple of gold nights ahead.  Otherwise, the light at the end of the tunnel is coming this weekend.  I have noticed that the cold has traveled to the south like Texas. I am wondering about Arizona, and Florida.  I will have to look that up.  Stay warm, stay safe.

Australia weather for Thursday Feb 20 will be cool at 71F(21C) but as we are warming up for the weekend.  It looks like they will warm up too.  On Saturday it is predicted to be 92F(33C).  Stay cool, stay safe.  

I just checked the weather for Jen in Powell Wyoming.  They are having a -17 this morning but it looks like their warmup will begin tomorrow.  Stay warm, stay safe. 
​
I will share what I found out about wind chill.  I just think it will make me feel colder for sure. 
Brr! Do you feel that chill in the air? What is windchill? Basically, it combines the cooling effect of temperature and wind, driving down the “perceived” temperature. Interestingly, the wind does not change the temperature of the air; it’s changing your body’s temperature. See the Windchill Chart, how windchill is calculated, and how it all works.
What is Windchill?
The Windchill Temperature Index is a “measure of the combined cooling effect of wind and temperature.”
Let’s explain:  Have you ever noticed that you “feel” colder in the winter if the wind blows? You’re not imagining this! How cold it “feels” is not just about the temperature. It’s also about wind speed. The body is cooled faster as the wind speed increases, causing the skin temperature to drop.
Why? Our body keeps a “buffer” or thick layer of air next to our skin to help us regulate our body temperature (maintaining 98.6°F). Think of this buffer as an insulating jacket! A strong wind can disrupt this buffer layer, making us feel colder.
When the wind picks up speed, it draws more heat away, so if your skin is exposed to the wind, your body will cool faster than it would have on a still day.
Combining freezing temperatures with a frigid wind increases the danger of frostbite and hypothermia. In northern climates, it’s not uncommon to hear wind chill warnings where exposed flesh can freeze in less than a minute.
Windchill Temperature Chart
The wind chill chart isn’t technically measuring “how cold it feels,” even though your body will certainly notice it’s colder. It reflects the rate of heat loss on exposed skin.
Wind chill IS a good indicator of how long it will take for hypothermia or frostbite to occur.
Dangers of Windchill
Frostbite: Windchill actually causes your body tissue to freeze! Frostbite in body tissue that has frozen and usually starts with the fingers, toes, tips of the nose, and ear lobes. If you lose feeling in these areas or they are turning pale or white, immediately get inside and get medical attention.
Hypothermia: Hypothermia sets in when your body’s temperature drops too low. Uncontrollable shivering, disorientation, and incoherence are signs of this issue, and medical attention should be sought immediately. Learn about the signs of hypothermia.
In both cases, take care to rewarm the body very slowly.
Windchill Safety Tips
Be smart about windchill! Here are some common-sense safety tips:
Listening to the weather station. Windchill Warnings are issued when wind chill temperatures are life-threatening. Windchill Advisories are issued when windchill temperatures are potentially hazardous.
When there is low windchill, cover your exposed flesh, especially your face and hands! Consider a balaclava to cover your mouth and protect your lungs. Mittens are better than gloves.
Wear layers of loose-fitting, warm clothing, as the layers will trap air and provide insulation. Your outer shell should be water-repellent and hooded.
Always wear a hat.  STAY WARM..dress for this weather. 
Taken fromhttps://www.almanac.com/windchill-chart-united-states
Till next time this is Becky Litterer, Becky’s Greenhouse, Dougherty Iowa [email protected]  641-794-3337  cell 641-903-9365

image from pngtree.com 

BRR it is cold out.  The temperature was at the lowest this morning, it was -18F.  Now at 10:00 AM it is -7  High today of zero.   We do have clear, blue sky so the sun looks warm.  Many schools have closed for the extremely cold temperatures.  For you that have animals, chores to do be safe.  Larry has done an awesome job of keeping the three stoves going.  They went all night long and he didn’t have to go out and add wood to them.  BUT that doesn’t mean we both were not up to watching the thermometer.  How are you doing?  Hope you are warm and staying safe. 

Australia family and friends are into a cooler temperature for their summer.  High of 71F( 21C)  weather site said -5 cooler than average.  Enjoy, stay cool, stay safe

I found this article about spring.  Yes, we all know it is coming.  Here are some facts about this season that we are all looking forward to. 
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Spring: The season of new beginnings
Spring is the season that new life and regrowth
Spring is the season during which the natural world revives and reinvigorates after the colder winter months. During spring, dormant plants begin to grow again, new seedlings sprout out of the ground and hibernating animals awake. 
What most people call spring relies on the astronomical definition of the word. Defined by the angle of Earth's tilt toward the sun, astronomical spring relies on equinoxes and solstices to define it. Spring is generally considered the period between the spring equinox and the summer solstice.
Equinoxes are days during the year when day and night are almost equal. There are two equinoxes each calendar year, one in the spring and one in the fall. The spring, or vernal, equinox occurs around March 20 in the Northern Hemisphere and around Sept. 22 in the Southern Hemisphere.
As such, in the Northern Hemisphere, astronomical spring runs from March 21 to June 21, while in the Southern Hemisphere it encompasses Sept. 21 to Dec. 21, though the dates may shift slightly from year to year.
The air may lose its winter chill before the middle of March or September, though. Weather forecasters define meteorological spring as a three-month period based on rising temperatures. North of the equator, meteorological spring takes place in March, April and May, while in the south it is characterized by the months of September, October and November, according to NOAA.
Spring awakening
In the hemisphere that is tilted closer to the sun, temperatures become warmer. Warmer temperatures means the ground, which may have frozen over the winter months, grows softer and more yielding to plants. Spring is often marked by increased rainfall, which helps to water the infant seeds taking root in the ground.
Animals that spent the winter in hibernation come out of their dens, while those that traveled to warmer regions return. Many animals give birth in the spring. Winter coats are shed by those that sported them, and some animals may change coloration to blend in with their new surroundings.
The rising rainfall of spring may bring with it an increase in flooding as melting snow overwhelms rivers. Spring may also boast storms, as warm air from the equator combines with still-cool air farther north or south.
Tornadoes are common during the spring in the United States as air of different temperatures combine. The world's deadliest tornado occurred April 26, 1989, in Bangladesh. It left a mile (1.6 kilometer) wide path for 10 miles (16 k), killing 1,300 people and leaving 80,000 people homeless, according to The Weather Channel.
One of the first signs that spring has sprung are the presence of tree buds. A plant’s buds act as a shield for the delicate flowers inside. Flowers of different shapes, sizes and forms come with individual and distinct protection. Throughout winter these buds remain closed and dormant, surviving the cold until their time comes to thrive in the spring, making a vibrant emergence from their compact casing. While it’s usually easy to distinguish a species from its distinct flowers, buds can have more subtle differences. This visual guide
A time of celebration
Many cultures celebrate the return of spring, the blossoming of nature or the rise of the vernal equinox.
In Japan, the annual blossoming of cherry trees has become a significant national event. Hanami, or cherry blossom viewing, is a time for festivals and gatherings at parks and shrines, according to the Japan National Tourism Organization. Cherry blossoms, or sakura, symbolize the transience of life, which is a major theme in Buddhism.
People of the Jewish faith celebrate Passover, which commemorates when the Jewish people were freed from slavery to Egypt, according to History. The day falls on the first full moon after the northern spring equinox and lasts for seven days.
Spring in many countries with a strong Christian tradition is marked by Easter, which celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ and his triumph over physical death. However, it has roots in older traditions.
"Easter is derived from a much older celebration of fertility and rebirth, the Celtic festival of Ostara," Cristina De Rossi, an anthropologist at Barnet and Southgate College in London, told Live Science. "The bunnies and the eggs are symbolic of fertility and reproduction."
Albania celebrates Dita e Verës on March 14, which also stems from pagan roots. Pilgrimages were once made to the peaks of the Albanian mountains, where prayers were offered to the Sun God for a prosperous year.
Mayday celebrations are common around Europe. The Maypole dance is a popular folk festival, particularly in parts of Germany and the United Kingdom. "The pole symbolizes sacred trees, the world axis, the phallus, growth and regeneration," said De Rossi.
Taken from https://www.livescience.com/24728-spring.html
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