After a long, and at times harsh, winter, at 10:46 a.m., on Friday, March 20, spring officially arrives.
While spring arrives on Friday, as I write this column on Tuesday morning, the temperature outside my window is -14C, though the weather forecast is showing temperatures rising above zero toward the end of the week, and through the weekend.
Early spring is a time of fluctuating temperatures, and a mixed bag of weather. Frigid, snowy days can be followed by double digits above zero with rain and hail, only to be followed by another round of chilly air and falling flakes of snow. The trend over the next few weeks however will be toward warmer air, and more rain than snow as we inch toward the warmer months.
The spring season means load restrictions on our roads and bridges and copious amounts of sand and grit being tracked into our homes and workplaces, but that sand and grit will soon be gone, washed away by spring rains, or swept up by municipal crews, and before we know it the load restrictions will be lifted, and we will be planning a summer road trip or two for those precious summer vacation days.
Spring in Ontario is also peak pothole season. The transition from cold to warm air reveals a number of new potholes each year, and municipal crews will be busy in the weeks to come patching the worst of the potholes. As hard as they might work, however, those roads crews are unlikely to keep pace with the numerous complaints that will be made on social media that will fuel much debate, which will further fan the frustrations of many. It can always be worse. I have memories of my time in Russia, where potholes are a year-round concern, and where the potholes aren’t the size of pie plates, many spanned the full width of a lane. In my files I have videos of drives on those roads some 20 years ago, with cars shifting in and out of their lanes in a delicate dance in order to avoid the massive potholes, which could be a little scary when cars were heading straight toward you before shifting back to their own lane once past a large pothole. For a visitor like me it was amusing (though sometimes scary), but for the local Russian motorists it was a source of constant frustration.
Road frustrations aside, spring is also a time of change, from the chilly winter air to warm spring air, to more sunlight, and to that wonderful spring rain.
With the arrival of more spring-like weather, we can open our windows to allow fresh air to flow through our homes, and once those windows are thrown open, for many of us it is time for some spring cleaning. My grandfather once told me that spring was the season to get some work done so that the summer could be reserved for fun. So for the whole of my life, I have seen spring as a season to tackle projects, and to prepare for the fun summer months.
Whether you are doing some spring cleaning, or some maintenance on the car or the lawn mower, the warm sunshine combined with the sound of birds chirping can make it feel much less like work.
Before long the sound of snowblowers will be replaced by the sound of lawn mowers, and if we’re lucky, the sound of skateboards on asphalt, or bicycle gears shifting. This is the time of year that many of us abandon our winter hibernation to spend more time outdoors enjoying everything from fishing to hiking to firing up the barbeque after an afternoon of yard work.
Springtime isn’t a busy time just for us humans. Our local wildlife becomes more active, bears are coming out of hibernation, the raccoons are back in the neighbourhood, and a host of other creatures big and small are busy gathering food, building nests, or are on the move heading for their summer homes. Over the past couple of weeks I have noted the return of the sweet sound of birds chirping, and there are many squirrels and chipmunks in my neighbourhood who have been scampering about, up and down trees, appearing to be quite enjoying the changing seasons.
If your springtime activities include some hikes in the woods, you should be aware that everything around you in those woods is coming to life, getting into their spring and summer routines, and you are a visitor on their turf, so be respectful, and be careful.
This is a good time of the year to remind motorists to be on alert as we will be seeing more bicycles and skateboards on our roads and sidewalks, more parents pushing strollers as they enjoy a walk in the neighbourhood, and more children chasing that ball that got away. So if you are driving, be aware, and be ready to stop quickly should that ball being chased end up in the middle of the street.
I hope that our readers find joy in the transition to spring, and that this season leads to a summer filled with fun, before we start planning for winter once again. Create some memories, have some adventures, and make the most of the spring and summer to come, because as we know well, winter will return in a blink of an eye. Happy spring everyone.
