What makes a season official to you?

[AmieN1]

Just my random Sunday thoughts- as I'm probably high on massive doses of mucinex & prescription strength sudafed...

My husband is mowing the grass for the first time this Spring and it's that specific sound that means it's officially Spring in my mind- heck with calendars!

And that got me thinking about what other things flip that switch for me. Fall is definitely when the leaves change color. Winter is usually first snow or frost.

what about you?

[jk703]

Weather, I think! When leaves change, cold air and icy windshields, Rain and trees budding, hot heat and longer days.

My fave is summer. Right now, Mother Nature has had a few too many martinis and it's been so cold, dreary and rainy. I'm over it. I would like some warmth and a little sun at least!

[karlimarie]

It's hard to say because in North Carolina we have so many false starts to our seasons. Especially in the spring and fall you can experience all four season in one day! hahahaha

I think maybe it's the clothes- which is pretty much based on the temperature. Like when I don't have to wear my house sweater or fuzzy socks. When I switch the kids clothes over. When the boys wear shorts and refuse to go back to long pants.

[Brendazzle]

It's officially "spring" here when the manatees leave. In FL as a whole, manatee season runs through the end of March but the ones down south near me leave by the beginning of March (except the nursing mamas). It's always a little bittersweet to no longer wake up to living marshmallows on webcam.

It's now warm enough to start sea turtle nesting season. Officially it runs March through October but the majority of nesting is during the hottest part of the summer.

We don't get real seasons down here (USDA planting zone 10B) but that small portion of time during November through January when I can wear long sleeves without melting is such a wonderful feeling.

[nietis]

It's spring here when cherry/plum blossoms are prettily adorning different corners of the city.
Summer is when it's hot enough to wear shorts (at least for me).
Fall is when the ginkgo tree leaves are golden and layering up is needed to go out.
Winter is when I switch my to my bulky long winter jacket.

[jacinda]

Hmmm, it doesn't snow in this part of New Zealand, so the change of seasons is a little more blurred. Cherry blossoms are definitely one of the signs of spring though I couldn't tell you if it signifies the START of spring or just spring in general. Everything else kinda blends from one season to the next, and I've noticed they're getting later too. e.g. our hot summer months used to be Dec - Feb, but now it's more Jan - Mar. For me, it's summer if I don't have to wear socks inside the house all of the time. Haha!

[jaye]

I would say weather but this time of year I can experience all four seasons in one day. . . .I guess that is my sign

The birds chirping, seeing my Hostas start to pop out of the ground.

[AmieN1]

Originally Posted by jk703

Mother Nature has had a few too many martinis and it's been so cold, dreary and rainy. I'm over it. I would like some warmth and a little sun at least!

I agree! It's been weird here too- upper 60's and sunny & SO nice then bam, the next day is cold & rainy. WTH Spring?

[AmieN1]

Originally Posted by karlimarie

It's hard to say because in North Carolina we have so many false starts to our seasons. Especially in the spring and fall you can experience all four season in one day! hahahaha

I think maybe it's the clothes- which is pretty much based on the temperature. Like when I don't have to wear my house sweater or fuzzy socks. When I switch the kids clothes over. When the boys wear shorts and refuse to go back to long pants.

We're in like our 3rd 'false' Spring here too! lol I agree with the clothes- although I prefer to be in hoodies most of the year anyways! And my son rarely wears long pants anymore year round!

[AmieN1]

Originally Posted by Brendazzle

It's officially "spring" here when the manatees leave. In FL as a whole, manatee season runs through the end of March but the ones down south near me leave by the beginning of March (except the nursing mamas). It's always a little bittersweet to no longer wake up to living marshmallows on webcam.

It's now warm enough to start sea turtle nesting season. Officially it runs March through October but the majority of nesting is during the hottest part of the summer.

We don't get real seasons down here (USDA planting zone 10B) but that small portion of time during November through January when I can wear long sleeves without melting is such a wonderful feeling.

Crazy! I learned something new! I didn't realize manatees have a 'season'! I'm not sure if I'd like living somewhere hot all the time- I love my cozy clothes too much! lol

[AmieN1]

Originally Posted by nietis

It's spring here when cherry/plum blossoms are prettily adorning different corners of the city.
Summer is when it's hot enough to wear shorts (at least for me).
Fall is when the ginkgo tree leaves are golden and layering up is needed to go out.
Winter is when I switch my to my bulky long winter jacket.

Oh I love the cherry tree blossoms! We have some here in the PNW & that's definitely a sign of Spring!

[AmieN1]

Originally Posted by jacinda

Hmmm, it doesn't snow in this part of New Zealand, so the change of seasons is a little more blurred. Cherry blossoms are definitely one of the signs of spring though I couldn't tell you if it signifies the START of spring or just spring in general. Everything else kinda blends from one season to the next, and I've noticed they're getting later too. e.g. our hot summer months used to be Dec - Feb, but now it's more Jan - Mar. For me, it's summer if I don't have to wear socks inside the house all of the time. Haha!

Lol I hate socks! Interesting about the timing changing- global warming probably?

[AmieN1]

Originally Posted by jaye

I would say weather but this time of year I can experience all four seasons in one day. . . .I guess that is my sign

The birds chirping, seeing my Hostas start to pop out of the ground.

We have those crazy spring days here too! I love Hostas! I need to plant some more!

[jaye]

Originally Posted by AmieN1

We have those crazy spring days here too! I love Hostas! I need to plant some more!

I have lots, It's too bad we live so far apart, as I would happily share!! I need to split them

[nietis]

It's crazy to believe that you just had crazy snow and rain in one day just a few days ago. I thought UK & Australia have crazy enough weather, turns out that Canada is another on the list.

Originally Posted by jaye

I would say weather but this time of year I can experience all four seasons in one day. . . .I guess that is my sign

The birds chirping, seeing my Hostas start to pop out of the ground.

[Brendazzle]

Originally Posted by AmieN1

Crazy! I learned something new! I didn't realize manatees have a 'season'! I'm not sure if I'd like living somewhere hot all the time- I love my cozy clothes too much! lol

It's pretty much either manatee or sea turtle season for me. (Sea turtles are March to October and manatees are November to March.) I'm getting too old for all this heat though; I am so ready to not melt all the time.

When we travel, I relish being cozy... once I buy clothes appropriate for it. I borrowed a coat when I went to meet my now-husband's family for the first time and I think I shocked his grandparents when I was like "heck yes, I am comfy, let us be in the snow now."

Eventually, I know my husband wants to move somewhere with seasons. Realizing the red maples don't turn red here broke him a bit.

[nietis]

Another thing about Spring here is that catkins are everywhere and they get into our apartment like crazy whenever our front door is opened. They are so hard to get rid of

Originally Posted by AmieN1

Oh I love the cherry tree blossoms! We have some here in the PNW & that's definitely a sign of Spring!

[LynnZant]

Another one who has all the seasons in one day. I think that it needs to be 80 degrees for a few weeks before I think about putting away the shovel.

[allyanne]

Originally Posted by LynnZant

Another one who has all the seasons in one day. I think that it needs to be 80 degrees for a few weeks before I think about putting away the shovel.

Haha, right?

I think it's hearing the "spring peepers" (tree frogs) singing in the woods that makes my heart say "SPRING!" Also, when the grass starts turning that crazy vibrant green and the goldfinches turn yellow again.

[LJSDesigns]

We do every season in a day in Indiana too. It stinks. LOL

For me, the start of spring is when the lilacs begin budding. When they are in bloom then it is full spring.

Summer is when school lets out. That is how I have always judged it since I was in school.

Fall is when schools starts. LOL You would think I was a teacher or something and Winter is Black Friday.

I guess I am more calendar based than anything else.

[KristinCB]

we've had snow on the first day of summer here so I don't even know LOL. Fall to me though is always the beginning of september when school starts. by the time fall arrives on the calendar we are already well into the changing of the leaves it seems.

[norton94]

Daffodils

[jaye]

Originally Posted by nietis

It's crazy to believe that you just had crazy snow and rain in one day just a few days ago. I thought UK & Australia have crazy enough weather, turns out that Canada is another on the list.

Monday we were in short sleeves, light jackets and I slept with my bedrdoom window open. Tuesday morning started out cool, but then the temperature bottomed out. By the time I got home from work it was winter coat, gloves, and the wind was gnarly. Today is cool, but no wind and the sun is out. Spring is very weird where I live yes, lol. That's why I never do any planting until after Mother's Day in May, sometimes I will even wait a week longer.

[nietis]

Originally Posted by jaye

Monday we were in short sleeves, light jackets and I slept with my bedrdoom window open. Tuesday morning started out cool, but then the temperature bottomed out. By the time I got home from work it was winter coat, gloves, and the wind was gnarly. Today is cool, but no wind and the sun is out. Spring is very weird where I live yes, lol. That's why I never do any planting until after Mother's Day in May, sometimes I will even wait a week longer.

My sister & brother in Toronto share with me about the weather there and each time I get shock on the drastic changes, I keep on saying that Mother Earth is drunk... I don't even know what's going on anymore... Last weekend we stayed put at home due to the strong winds (they released orange alert for the whole weekend). There were many trees uprooted & cars flipped in the whole city. It was crazy.

[AmieN1]

Originally Posted by LynnZant

Another one who has all the seasons in one day. I think that it needs to be 80 degrees for a few weeks before I think about putting away the shovel.

Lol I think we're finally putting all the winter stuff away from the garage this weekend! It'll probably snow after that but oh well...

[AmieN1]

Originally Posted by LJSDesigns

We do every season in a day in Indiana too. It stinks. LOL

For me, the start of spring is when the lilacs begin budding. When they are in bloom then it is full spring.

Summer is when school lets out. That is how I have always judged it since I was in school.

Fall is when schools starts. LOL You would think I was a teacher or something and Winter is Black Friday.

I guess I am more calendar based than anything else.

I agree with the school holidays and resuming- especially since I have school aged kids!

[AmieN1]

Originally Posted by norton94

Daffodils

My favorite!

[EvelynD2]

Besides the weather, it's how I decorate my house. I decorate for the different holidays and seasons. I guess that is a throwback to my years teaching lower elementary school! A teacher's got to be decorating!

[AmieN1]

Originally Posted by EvelynD2

Besides the weather, it's how I decorate my house. I decorate for the different holidays and seasons. I guess that is a throwback to my years teaching lower elementary school! A teacher's got to be decorating!

Love it! I decorate for most seasons- but some more than others. Christmas is my favorite- so I go ALL out for winter!

[TraceyM]

I think each season has something iconic to each of us. For instance, when I start hearing the frogs croak outside in the evening, I know it's spring.