There are some things that have to happen before you know for sure that spring has arrived. I suspect that everybody has their own list, but of course I can only talk about mine. I hope that you can at least empathise with my list, even if you totally disagree. There is no particular order, but I am starting with possibly my favourite.
Frogs. Spring is not complete without frogs. If you have a garden, you must create a pond, if you don’t already have one. I guarantee that somewhere near you are some frogs who would love to make merry in your pond at the beginning of spring. You might also find that toads drop by as well, and eventually you will get newts. I have made three ponds now, and frogs quickly found them all. It took three years for newts to find my largest pond, and I am still waiting hopefully for them to find my latest one. I think I spotted a newt there a few weeks ago, but it was only the quickest of sightings, so I am not sure. However, frogs and toads have made it their spawning ground. There is nothing like the guttural croaking of mating frogs to start your spring with a smile. You get great lumps of spawn – or strings if you have toads – followed by tadpoles (or toadpoles!) in seething black masses. Eventually you will get miniature frogs, the amount depending on many variables, such as the weather, type fish in your pond and other predators.
Dandelion wine. I’ve already talked about this, but you really should read Dandelion wine at least once during spring. It really sets you up for the summer as well.
Lambs. You know that spring is here when you can see lambs running around in the fields as you drive along, or are lucky enough to be walking in the countryside. Commuting between Bournemouth and Manchester, I have ample opportunity to observe fields and the animals within. There is some instinctive pleasure in seeing lambs bouncing around the green fields, and I cannot imagine how anyone could see them for the first time and not smile.
Bank holidays. Probably the most familiar indicator of Spring to the general population is the Great British Bank Holiday. Of course, the official spring bank holiday is the last Monday of May, which we used to call Whitsun. The first Monday in May is also a bank holiday, and many people see that as an indicator that spring has arrived. It isn’t really a bank holiday unless it rains though, then we can really moan about it, which is something British people enjoy.
That is it, my four essential indicators of spring. If you’ve got any, feel free to share!