How do you know spring has really begun?

[rbarata]

My method involves a small turtle I have.
The room where she is is not heated in winter so she hibernates. When she wokes up, that's the sign.

Animals know better than us.

[Subrosa]

When the Spring Beauties bloom of course!

[Skycat]

Apparently when it starts raining for days in a row and makes me afraid everything's going to die of root rot.

[Pattywack]

For me, when we have rain in the forecast instead of snow. I have a beautiful Yoshino cherry tree just outside my front door. This year it was blooming so nicely and then we had more snow.

[Leafmite]

In Ohio? When I see my fruit trees blooming, I just hope that it means it is spring. Of course, the plum, almond and peach tree already were mistaken this year but maybe the cherry and apple trees know better?

[rbarata]

This year it was blooming so nicely and then we had more snow.

Sometimes plants fail the forecast.

During the years, since I got my turtle 16 years ago, never fails. This year she woke up when the weather started to get warmer but two days after she hide and never came out...then started to rain and alitle bit colder.
Now she's finally awake and eating her shrimps...the forecast for next week is temps above 30 ºC (90 F).

Never fails!

[Orchid Whisperer]

In March when maple trees have tiny red flowers (yes, those scruffy red bits on the twigs are wind-pollinated flowers). That is followed by another 2 or 3 weeks where clouds of greenish-yellow pine pollen billow through the neighborhood and said pollen is 1 mm thick on cars and any other horizontal surface you can think of.

[Pattywack]

Any pictures of this weather turtle? How cool is that, 16 years. Wow

[rbarata]

I'll post some pics tomorrow.
I whish she could guess lotary nºs too.

[Ray]

In Louisville, spring started on Derby Day. Here in southeast PA, it's Mothers Day.