Spring comes early in South Carolina, and this year is no exception. It’s so pleasant we can enjoy the outdoors in our shirtsleeves. The excitement is contagious, especially with children who have been in the classroom all day wishing they could go outside. Capture the opportunity to share the moment with them by looking for signs of spring.
The earliest sign my beekeeper-husband notices is the maple trees in bloom. This is one of the first nectar flows for the honeybees. I had never noticed blossoms on maple trees before Dave pointed them out to me. They are so tiny that you don’t see the individual blooms from a distance, but you can notice that the branches begin to look like they’ve been splattered with tiny red spots. Soon the spots will look larger, but by the time they look big, they have turned into seeds – all of which appear before the leaves come out. Soon the wild fruit trees begin to bloom.
Dandelions and other little flowers that bloom in the grass also feed the bees. Remind your children that the bees help feed us by pollinating our fruits and vegetables. Then show them how to make curly Qs (http://janicedgreen.com/blog/?p=1213) and dandelion chains (http://janicedgreen.com/blog/?p=1215) from the flowers and stems, or encourage them to blow the seeds and make a wish. Even better, explain the difference between making a wish and saying a prayer. A wish scatters to the breeze with the seeds, while a prayer goes to the Creator of heaven and earth.
Are there different birds around your house at this time of year? Perhaps they are beginning to migrate back to their summer homes. Are spring bulbs putting up leaves in your flower beds? What signs of spring do you see in your part of the world?
© 2011 by Janice D. Green
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