Among my pantheon of pet peeves I count the astronomical definition of the seasons. People look around on March 21st–or 22nd, because They Say So–expecting some radical change. You can almost hear the globe laughing. Let’s leave astronomy to matters of astrophysics: rotations, revolutions, light years, and such. Let’s leave Spring to what our eyes see, our noses smell, our ears hear, and what our skin feels as it collides with our sun’s radiant energy and the increased load of humidity it can carry. Here in central North Carolina, it’s definitely the beginning of Spring. For over two weeks I’ve posted photos of such, and this past week left no room for doubters:
The star magnolia has hit full bloom…
The camellia has busted out its peppermint blossoms, and in its exuberance, an aberrant deep pink one:
…and daffodils (or relatives thereof) are blooming everywhere:
A screeching blush of robins stopped by a week ago, but I had no time to properly photograph them. Just arrived from further south to torment those who stuck it out? Or just a gathering to kick off the aggressive mating season? One of them has been attacking his own reflection on my side storm door for ten days now. The bird feeder needs filling about five times more than usual. Yes, it’s good. Soon I’ll note that first sheen of green as I look through the tops of the until-now bare trees, a sheen foreshadowing the imminent burst of leaves as we launch into the heightened glory of full Spring.
all the voices in my head 
From my perspective, Northern Pacific, almost Canadian, your blooms might almost seem abundantly rude. Beautifully so. Just not here, not yet.
“almost Canadian”? As a Washington born boy who has lived west of the Cascades, I feel your (gray) pain. Even if you mean Oregon, it’s not a lot different. My brother just got back to the SW from Tacoma where he lived decades. He’s glad he moved.
This post will need to be followed by one next month addressing the “Carolina Pine Pollen Apocalypse” which will shortly follow all these lovely spring blossoms. 😉