Is spring in the air?

TinaM

Member
IMG_5584.jpegWishful thinking. I know official spring isn’t until March 20, which can’t come soon enough.

It will be my first spring in south western Missouri. I moved to this state last summer.

What are your first signs of spring?
 

I don’t know about Spring just yet by me, but the sun is stronger and the days are getting longer. So the icy roads clear up faster once the sun hits them - that’s progress!

But even by me I am starting to get just a little nervous about completing my indoor winter projects. And have to order seed in the next few weeks to start plants indoor.
 
I didn't even have to put my headlights on.
Yes, you should... Even in full sunlight.


lights-on-for-safety.png
 
California has only wet and dry seasons unlike the Eastern US. We are still very much in the winter season and in fact a large Pacific AR storm is forecast for tonight. Earliest USA spring like vegetation conditions occur in the Southwest desert areas of California and Arizona. Death Valley National Park lower elevations have peak wildflowers during wet winters by mid February.

But not this 2024/2025 winter as our deserts have been very dry. Here in Northern California, we have had moderate storms so landscapes are now nicely greening up. However, because of still cool temperatures, most native plants won't start to flower until mid March.

Thus along our central coast regions, our green flowery spring with its many microclimates due to the adjacent Pacific Ocean, is about mid March through early May. Our earliest spring wildflowers are in coastal range mountains above frequent marine clouds and latest along immediate coastal shores.
 
Of course, we enjoy spring thoroughly here. It's not spring-like now, we've had intermittent but recurring snowfalls of about one foot each time. That's important at my elevation (about 1500 feet above sea level), but even more important to have it in abundance in the mountain ridges just above us.

In April we'll see signs of spring similar to Paco Dennis's and Chic's posted images. If we don't get enough snow, then spring can be followed by practically uncontrollable forest wildfires by mid summer.
 

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