A Welcome to Spring

The late, great Robin Williams said “Spring is nature’s way of saying, Let’s Party”!  I spent Spring Equinox (March 20th) exploring Calloway Creek trail in MacDonald Forest.  If the riot of wildflowers, songbirds and gurgling streams are any sign, there is some serious fun being had in our wild backyard.

Spring (or Vernal) Equinox marks the time of year when night and day are nearly the same length – 12 hours – all over the world. My ritual for the equinox is to spend as much time outside as possible. The fact that it was pouring rain was of no consequence (except that it made taking focused pictures difficult).

The forest floor was carpeted with blooms of orchids, violets, trilliums, fawn lilies and other species. Rough-skinned newts were out in numbers clambering through thick mossy banks alongside the rushing creek. Check out the video to see the bright orange belly of this local amphibian.

Living in Benton County we are fortunate to have an abundance of woods, fields, and streams that are easily accessible by adults and children. We each celebrate the coming of spring in our own way, from planting seeds to reveling in longer daylight hours.  Visit our Facebook page to let us know how you are getting out and enjoying discovery of the vernal season in your neighborhood.