Springy

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About twelve hours ago was the March equinox, which is the spring equinox up here in the northern hemisphere and the fall equinox on the other side of the equator. I would've posted at the time, but I'd gotten the a.m./p.m. thing wrong, so I thought it was now instead of last night.

So if you're in the northern hemisphere, welcome to spring. I know that in a lot of places it doesn't feel much like spring; sounds like things are pretty cold in the northeastern US, for example. But we've officially turned the corner. I've heard reports of crocuses. It won't be long 'til things warm up.

I've been reluctant to talk much about the weather out here because I don't want anyone to think I'm gloating, but I'll briefly note that it's been really glorious. The tree outside my window finished flowering, then lost all its flowers and burst into full leaf. I'm feeling a lot saner than I was a couple weeks ago, a lot more capable of coping. Sunshine on my skin helps tremendously. I say this not to thumb my nose at those of you still stuck in winter, but to remind you that you'll be getting sunshine soon too. Hold on a little longer.

For some spring versifying, see my spring 2002 entry. And feel free to post comments pointing to other spring verse, photos of flowers, etc.

For those of you reading this from the southern hemisphere, if any, I apologize for rubbing in the onset of autumn.

2 Responses to “Springy”

  1. Jacob

    Fortunately I didn’t read the spring post until Monday; it wasn’t very springy here (Philly) the day you wrote it, but it’s nice today. Amazing what it does for the mental health.

    I’ve always been bemused by the whole “seasons start on the equinox” thing, though. As far as I am aware, this is 1) only held to be true in the United States, and 2) not official in any way; not set down by the National Weather Service or Nasa or the Astronomer Royal.

    See Cecil Adam’s column on this (“Is it true summer in Ireland starts May 1?”).

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  2. Jed

    Thanks, Jacob! I was one of the clueless Americans that Cecil mentions—had no idea other places didn’t do it that way.

    That more or less explains the use of the term “midwinter” or “Midwinter’s Day” to refer to the Solstice, too; I always thought it was kinda weird that the first day of winter would be called “midwinter.”

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