Daffodils and Other Signs of Spring

First signs of spring are appearing.  Well not quite.  This is a different year for weather in my part of the world.  We’ve had a milder, less snowy winter so some of the first signs of spring started last November.

The one sign I notice first is daffodils coming up out of the ground.  Usually they would start coming out in early February and their foliage would be up about 4 inches by now.  With our milder weather, they were up about 4 inches in November and have just recently started growing again.  The daffodils in my front yard are up about 8 inches now and I can see some in my neighborhood even have buds on them.  Mine usually bloom around March 25th. 

Another early sign of spring is the return of large flocks of robins.  That won’t happen this year because most of the robins never left.  The weather has been mild enough that the ground hasn’t completely frozen and the robins can still find food.  In the early mornings now I hear the robins singing just as I normally would in mid March. 

One sign of spring I have yet to hear is the sound of the red wing black birds.  The males usually arrive around March 1st and the females join them about two weeks later.  When I hear the first distinctive sound of the male’s call, I am sure spring is really just weeks away.

And, finally, one of the best signs of spring.  A wonderful sound.  The bat hitting the ball.  Spring training just started and the first pre season game is in two weeks.  Then, spring will truly be here.