THE LEAFING OF SPRING.
That string of four words defines May in Minnesota. In the past several weeks, I’ve watched buds form on trees, then unfurl into a canopy of mostly green. But also other hues.
Until you’ve lived through a cold and snowy winter like we did, I doubt you can fully appreciate the magnificence of this season, of viewing these days like a child at play.
The green of spring appears brilliant. Intense. An incomparable green that locks my eyes onto a lush landscape.
I almost can’t stop looking, taking it all in. This spring. This denotes the season of hope and new life, of following roads that lead to the promise of better days ahead.
TELL ME: What in nature signals spring for you?
© Copyright 2019 Audrey Kletscher Helbling
Minnesota Prairie Roots 
I’ve never heard this expression, how apt. 🙂
🙂
My spring comes much earlier in NC than your spring in MN but many of the things are similar. The budding out of the trees so that I can no longer see the red door of the church across the lake from us when I sit on the back deck is my indicator that spring has arrived and it makes me happy. 🙂
A church with a red door seems the most fitting of views for you from your deck.
I think that we in the Bold North appreciate the the seasons more than people living in the south with not as many seasonal changes. I love the bursting of colors. The spring green that is here too short of a time before turning to the richer darker green. Spring is seeing the wildflowers in the woods, the Bloodroot, Dutchmans Britches, wild Violets and the rarer finding of Jack-in-the-pulpits! Spring is the evergreen tips bursting with new growth and the asparagus growing so quickly! And any farm raised person knows the smell of freshly turned soil as the farmers prepare the soil for planting. Who knew dirt could smell so good?!
Oh, how I love the scent of freshly turned soil in the spring.
I love watching the brilliant greens and bright flowers come to life as we’ve experienced the tail end of winter in the Ohio, Indiana, and Michigan areas. Although we’ve had nothing but rain for days on end, the grass, trees, and fields are coming to life. We will be breezing through your fair state in a month or so with a short stop in Mantorville to visit a dear friend of mine and maybe a jaunt down to Albert Lea to visit her mom. We’re headed to South Dakota and will get to drive through southern Minnesota on our way.
Ah, you’ll drive through southern MN during a particularly beautiful time of year.
Rain showers, planting and that “Spring” smell in the air.
I definitely know that spring smell. Earthy.
To me the early spring signs are “ice out” on the lakes, the call of the loons and the sight of other birds returning. Then it merges into the time to plant the annuals that supplement the perennials in my garden. Oh, and lilacs blooming, that is still my favorite even though we have difficulty with lilacs here.
Ah, the lilacs. I’ve picked my second bouquet of lilacs, filling the house with the heady scent of spring.
Lovely photos, Audrey. Spring is my Very Favorite time of year. New beginnings, rebirth, watching the earth coming back to life. I love it! The wildflowers here, this time of year are just glorious. ❤
I’m glad you’re enjoying spring so much, Penny. Wildflowers are definitely part of the seasonal appeal.
Your four words that define spring also define your approach to writing; succinct but right on target encapsulating the moment. And yes leafing out certainly is visible this time of the year. Since I go back and forth a lot between the cities and up north its like watching spring in slow motion.
So basically your spring lingers given those trips back and forth from south to north.