BS: You know that it's Spring when...

Subject: RE: BS: You know that it's Spring when...
From: Azizi
Date: 20 Mar 06 - 04:54 PM

Kaleea:

"If you knew Vernon, like I knew Vernon, Oh! Oh! what a guy!"

[Actually, I don't believe in sharing that kind of wealth].

Butt, come to think of it, that's a GREAT way to commemorate the beginning of spring, and summer, and autumn, and winter!

LOL!!!!

Subject: RE: BS: You know that it's Spring when...
From: artbrooks
Date: 20 Mar 06 - 04:40 PM

I know its finally spring when a late frost comes through and freezes all of the blossoms off of my apple and cherry trees.

Subject: RE: BS: You know that it's Spring when...
From: nutty
Date: 20 Mar 06 - 04:28 PM

When your foot treads with tender fear
On seven white heads then spring is here

The Daisy Song by Dorothy Una Radcliffe

An old Yorkshire Dales saying about the coming of Spring.

Not a daisy in sight so far this year.

Subject: RE: BS: You know that it's Spring when...
From: MMario
Date: 20 Mar 06 - 04:03 PM

hmmmm, I think of bearded iris as being a LATE spring flower... but that may just be our particular micro-climate.

Subject: RE: BS: You know that it's Spring when...
From: SunnySister
Date: 20 Mar 06 - 03:56 PM

Hi Azizi! I love your thread!

I know it's spring when I see bearded iris, my favorite flower, start to bloom. When I see my first bearded iris of the year, I feel like dancing and celebrating.

Someday I hope to have my own home with a garden where I will plant a huge amount of bearded iris. Their blooming will then signal that it will be time to send out invitations to my spring party. I don't have parties now, but when there's a house and a garden, I'll have a big one and invite lots of musicians! It's a nice thing to dream about on a rainy day like today here in San Francisco.

Best to you-- SunnySister

Subject: RE: BS: You know that it's Spring when...
From: open mike
Date: 20 Mar 06 - 03:52 PM

a flock of robins was seen passing thru
watching them cock their kheads to hear
the worms then dive on them and pull and pull
this and their chirping are hopeful harbingers
that winter is drawing to a close.

thanks for the Scarab info...my friends and I
have formed a Dung Beetle Clan and we cherish
any and all references to our totem critter!

also Ukranian Easter Eggs are a cultural tradition
that is one of the ways af assuring that the seasons
continue to revolve and evolve...
here is some info and some designs and symbols

http://www.learnpysanky.com/
http://www.scissorcraft.com

Subject: RE: BS: You know that it's Spring when...
From: Kaleea
Date: 20 Mar 06 - 03:28 PM

Azizi, Sounds naughty--you evidently "know" Vern & his Spring frolics better than I do!

Subject: RE: BS: You know that it's Spring when...
From: Bill D
Date: 20 Mar 06 - 03:16 PM

so, John...snow and cold are the latest punishments for your sins? *big grin*....

Subject: RE: BS: You know that it's Spring when...
From: Sorcha
Date: 20 Mar 06 - 03:13 PM

20" of snow and still falling....

Subject: RE: BS: You know that it's Spring when...
From: Beer
Date: 20 Mar 06 - 02:48 PM

Hay Bobad! Thanks for the idea with the turds.
How about you and I going up to visit Leftydee and get some ot them "Red Wing Trout"?

Subject: RE: BS: You know that it's Spring when...
From: MMario
Date: 20 Mar 06 - 02:43 PM

and just what differentiates cavorting from gamboling?

Subject: RE: BS: You know that it's Spring when...
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 20 Mar 06 - 02:38 PM

Just coming out of about 2 weeks of 60 F (16 C) sunny afternoons, the noon temp has dropped to about 34 F and is expected to remain below 30 F (~0 C) for at least the remainder of the week. Our predicted 2 to 5 inches of local snow should begin in about 2 hours, and main Interstate highways a bit north and through most of the western half of the state are expected to be shut down by mid afternoon, with 12 to 15 inches of snow drifting in 30 - 40 mph winds.

At least it may slow down the drought-driven grass fires that have eaten about 100,000 acres in the nearby region in the past couple of weeks.

This is spring??????

LiK noted the equinox about an hour ago, and allowed that she might cavort later but refuses to gambol in this weather.

John

Subject: RE: BS: You know that it's Spring when...
From: GUEST,Nogbad the bad
Date: 20 Mar 06 - 02:36 PM

What, the smell of his feet?

Subject: RE: BS: You know that it's Spring when...
From: Bill D
Date: 20 Mar 06 - 02:33 PM

"When a young man's fancy turns the thoughts of ...what she has been contemplating all Winter"

Subject: RE: BS: You know that it's Spring when...
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 20 Mar 06 - 02:25 PM

Sneaky Tami, I like it too!
HB 4 2 morrow.
Giok

Subject: RE: BS: You know that it's Spring when...
From: ranger1
Date: 20 Mar 06 - 02:16 PM

I start back to work at the park and the osprey return. My birthday helps herald it in, too, being the same day as Geoff the Duck's dad's birthday.

Subject: RE: BS: You know that it's Spring when...
From: leftydee
Date: 20 Mar 06 - 02:04 PM

When I realise that, once again, I haven't tied enough flies and trout season is right around the corner.

Subject: RE: BS: You know that it's Spring when...
From: Trevor
Date: 20 Mar 06 - 12:57 PM

The daffs on the way in to Shrewsbury aren't flowering yet - they're already late but we've just got the first lambs up here on the Stiperstones so spring can't be far off. I'll really know, though, when I see the first squashed hedgehog.

Subject: RE: BS: You know that it's Spring when...
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 20 Mar 06 - 12:52 PM

Nice to hear of someone planting Arran Pilot one of my favourite early potatos. Can you still get Arran Banner, that's another nice one?
Give yourself a treat and plant some Kerr's Pink, they make superb chips, and roast potatos.
Bugger I'm on diet, I shouldn't even be thinking about things like that!
Giok

Subject: RE: BS: You know that it's Spring when...
From: bobad
Date: 20 Mar 06 - 12:49 PM

Hey Beer, with the weather we've been having you can get out in the yard with a golf club and practice your swing with the frozen turds.

Subject: RE: BS: You know that it's Spring when...
From: Geoff the Duck
Date: 20 Mar 06 - 12:43 PM

I know it's Spring when its my dad's birthday 21st March
Quack!
GtD.

Subject: RE: BS: You know that it's Spring when...
From: Azizi
Date: 20 Mar 06 - 12:40 PM

Speaking of doo doo...

That excerpt that I linked to earlier which mentioned the egg being a symbol of life reminded me of the Egyptian symbol of the scarab beetle. Here's some information about that symbol:

"Containing the very power of eternal life, the Beetle's regenerative energies are closely associated with life renewal. The habit the Beetle has of rolling a ball of dung as a future source of nourishment for its babies, is an ancient symbol of the World Egg, from which all life and manifestation arose.

It is thus regarded as being self-generated. Perfection out of what seems imperfect. A symbol of resurrection, the Beetle is the most varied of all insects, as many as 280,000 different variations. To put this in perspective, the number of vertebrate animals - including fish, reptiles, amphibians, birds and mammals, is around 44,000.

In Egypt, the Scarab Beetle has great significance. Taking a piece of ox dung, it would roll it along a horizontal path from east to west and gradually shape the dung into a ball. Eggs are laid within and then buried in the ground for about a month. After this time, the Beetle would dig up the ball and push it into the water and its young would emerge. Because of its east to west rolling, it became associated with the Sun and its movement across the sky.

The Scarab thus came to be a symbol for solar deities and for new life. As with many insects, the Beetle goes through a tremendous metamorphosis from the grub stage to the winged. Because of this, it is associated with resurrection and change, much as the butterfly is as well. In its winged stage, the front set of wings are thickened into hard covers which fold and protect the soft underside; the back, larger wings spread out as that of a Hawk".

Source: http://www.katiestanley.com/resources/dd/b.htm

Subject: RE: BS: You know that it's Spring when...
From: Beer
Date: 20 Mar 06 - 12:22 PM

Dog shit all over the lawn.

Subject: RE: BS: You know that it's Spring when...
From: MMario
Date: 20 Mar 06 - 12:05 PM

yup, Giok; Spring is thinking about coming - but it's got a long way to travel I 'spect. Surprised the ducks stay with the drakes, way them drakes treat 'em. But the swans are migrating- so spring can't be too far off.

this year I've seen flocks of snow geese and swans - usually only see Canada geese and the occasional flock of ducks.

Subject: RE: BS: You know that it's Spring when...
From: Gervase
Date: 20 Mar 06 - 12:00 PM

I dunno about the "Olde" Way, but round here (in Wales) it's still a sign for planting. My Arran Pilots and Sharpe's Express are going in the ground this week. And we've just started lambing, so there's the new life!

Subject: RE: BS: You know that it's Spring when...
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 20 Mar 06 - 11:53 AM

Spring to me is catkins and primroses, and the fist green leaves starting to show. There are a few hazel catkins around and my Garrya Elliptica tassels have been out for ages, but the other signs are a way off yet. Even if the drakes are busy trying to drown the ducks in a frenzy of sexual excitement across the way in the loch, and the crows are carrying long twigs overhead on their way to nest renovations, spring is not really here yet, another 3/4 weeks yet I should think.
Giok

Subject: RE: BS: You know that it's Spring when...
From: Azizi
Date: 20 Mar 06 - 11:51 AM

Here's a link if you are interested in reading about the origin and meaning of The Vernal Equinox

And here's an excerpt from that website:

"To the elders of the Olde Way, these times, equinoxes, were markers in which seeds would be planted and then harvested. The first of these, the Spring or Vernal Equinox occurs on or about March 21st.

The ancient goddess, Eostre, a Saxon deity who marked not only the passage of time but also symbolized new life and fertility, was the key symbol of this celebration which was also known as Ostara. Legend has it that the goddess was saved by a bird
whose wings had become frozen by the cold of winter.

This process turned the bird into a hare. Yet this was no ordinary cottontail; this long-eared rabbit could also lay eggs!

The main symbols for Easter are the egg, for new life or beginnings, and the rabbit/hare, for fertility".

Subject: BS: You know that it's Spring when...
From: Azizi
Date: 20 Mar 06 - 11:47 AM

March 20th marks the Vernal Equinox which means that spring is officially here.

So happy Vernal Equinox to you and yours!

But though it's officially spring, it still feels like winter out there to me. As far as I'm concerned, it's not spring until it gets much warmer than it is now.

When do you know that it is spring?

And do you do anything to commemorate Spring's coming?