When the long winter is drawing to a close, we begin to look forward to the arrival of spring. So you want to quickly remove your heavy outerwear, expose your face to the warm sunshine, inhale the aroma of blooming kidneys! And so with such joy we note even the most inconspicuous signs of spring. Every slightest change in nature responds in the soul with joy and hope for its quick complete victory.
The first signs of spring in inanimate nature
The most basic sign, of course, is associated with a calendar that cannot be deceived. Even if “spring is late” and deep snow is still lying in the yard, and people go in winter clothes, we still feel its approach. After all, the day is gradually increasing, and the nights are getting shorter, and even somehow brighter.
The sun's rays are already starting to warm the earth in a new way. And this is understandable: our planet turned slightly towards the sun, and now its rays do not slip along the tangent, but fall at an angle increasing every day. That's why the air temperature is getting higher.
The sky acquires a special deep blue color, it becomes as if bottomless. Although sometimes no, no, and it will be tightened by heavy leaden clouds, which will suddenly sprinkle snow mixed with rain on the ground.
Spring will come - the snow will melt!
From the heat on the snow cover, thawed areas, icicles melt and melt. “Winter is crying,” the old people say. “She doesn’t want to leave us!” And us ringing drops notifies of the arrival of springtime in the first place. These are undoubtedly the first visible signs of spring.
Snow in those places where the sun's rays do not fall , loosens, becomes nostril, darkens. If you look closely, you can notice how steam rises from the surface of the already opened earth. And now the streams, gurgling merrily, run along the ground. This sound cannot be compared or confused with anything, it's like the magic music of a new life!
And what can be compared with the special smell of the spring wind when it, so fresh and gentle, blows towards it? And all because it is filled with the smells of damp earth, melted snow, buds open, young grass.
The arrival of spring in the plant world
Young grass, beginning to break through into the light of day, and buds swollen on trees and bushes meet the new spring season.
Outside the city, near any reservoir, an alder grows, which with its breaking shoots of cones will show that spring has come. This definition applies to black alder, in which the cones are held on the legs-processes.
Visually, this can be defined as follows: if the alder crown acquired a light red color, then this is evidence of the onset of spring, since in winter the crown is transparent.
Gradually, the kidneys turn into red earrings - they come out of the sleep phase and absorb the power of the spring sun. Their growth is very noticeable. When the earrings reach full growth, they form scales with pollen, which flies from a gust of wind, forming a cloud of gold dust!
The pollen of gray alder, which, waiting for a favorable moment, begins to fly in the air from the action of the spring sun, also indicates signs of spring.
Following the alder, hazel begins to bloom, and then aspen with willow. The trees, as it were, arrange competitions, who earlier will release leaves to meet a new life.
And fluffy “seals” of willow were admired by almost everyone - the holiday “Palm Sunday” was even dedicated to them.
The coltsfoot flower proves that the signs of spring in nature are manifested not only in the flowering of trees. This plant can be found on soils near rivers or ponds, as well as in ravines. The love-loving coltsfoot has the peculiarity of releasing primarily flowers, and only then leaves. Seeing the cheerful yellow lights of the flowers of this medicinal plant, we can confidently say that spring has come into its own!
The first to remind people of spring are modest mimosas. No wonder they are the symbol of the women's holiday on March 8.
And how not to remember the snowdrops, whose fluffy and tender sprouts break the path to the air through thawed snow? The very combination of flowers and snow gives the arrival of spring a fabulous hue, as an anticipation of something new and joyful.
And along with snowdrops in the meadows and forests appear forest violets, snapdragon, bluebills, wild cloves and many other flowers. Unfortunately, people do not cherish them and ruthlessly exterminate them for the sake of several days of enjoying their aroma and beauty.
Birds in spring
And what else speaks about the onset of the most wonderful time of the year? What are the signs spring are known?
Of course, these are birds singing with all their voices. They inform others that spring is coming. The very first bird that begins to praise spring is the wagtail. They also say about her that she "brings spring on her tail."
Following her, you can hear the singing of starlings. The arrival of birds from warm lands marks the beginning of a new period of the year, and these are eternal signs of spring.
It’s important that rooks walk around the thaw, searching for larvae and insects crawling out from under the earth to the heat.
Swifts and swallows flashed in the air - they also have a serious task. After all, they need to have time to build nests, lay eggs and start hatching.
Insects in the spring
After the snow melts, the ground begins to warm up, and the insects wintering under it also awaken. Ants, bugs crawl out, flies wake up. And now the first moths and butterflies are increasingly beginning to catch my eye.
Meeting spring animals
But the signs of spring are not only physical manifestations of animate and inanimate nature, but also a general joyful mood, some kind of special upsurge. This can be seen even in animals (how not to recall the funny tricks of cats?). As they say: "The cats are yelling - March has come."
Almost all animals molt in spring, changing their winter lush outfit to a lighter one - spring. The forest inhabitants also have time to change the color of their fur coat: squirrels from gray-blue become bright red, hares from white become gray. The color of the skin also changes in mice, otters, ground squirrels, groundhogs, jerboas, wolves, foxes.
Even domestic animals molt, however, in most cases their color remains the same, because they do not need to hide, saving their lives.
People activities
And a person’s life changes abruptly with the onset of spring. This is especially noticeable in rural areas. After all, you need to start preparing for landings. Therefore, people clear areas. And where the earth has already dried up, dig it up.
After the cold weather, it is already possible to remove the insulation from the windows, and at the same time it is possible to wash the glass. And warm blankets, along with fur coats and hats, felt boots and boots, “move” into the mezzanine and pantries. And from there they get demi-season clothes, light rugs, shake them from dust, and dry them in the sun. And although there are now many technical improvements that allow us to do all this at home, without taking out clothes and bedding on the street, some still put pillows and mattresses under the sun's rays, hang blankets and coats on ropes.
And somehow it goes without saying that this lesson goes into "general cleaning of the home." Therefore, an unwritten rule was established from the distant past: to clean the premises in the spring. Well, at the same time it’s time to clear the territory, because after all, from under the melted snow a lot of dirt and garbage crawled out. And the soul asks for purity and joy, light and goodness!
No wonder spring is called the period of awakening, because this period marks only love and warmth!