Spring Equinox

Are you prepared for the start of spring? I hope so because, ready or not, here she comes! At 11:06 PM this evening, to be precise, winter will end and springtime will begin as we celebrate the 2024 spring equinox.

I find that spring’s arrival rarely follows a predictable schedule. Each year unique. And, in spite of the heathen thrill that comes with romancing celestial and meteorological rituals, it would appear that the vernal equinox is merely a symbolic approximation of springtime.

(Source: Vernal Equinox: Barred Owl Sighting)

And so it is that we find ourselves observing the spring equinox with chilly, cloudy conditions. 24° this morning and 37° now, but feels like 31° with rising humidity and wind at 8 mph from the west-northwest (but gusting up to 19 mph.) Not especially springlike!

But I won’t complain as we’ve experienced far more wintery conditions at this point in years past.

In fact, in order to mine reassurance from relatively recent Rosslyn experience, the photos in today’s post recollect a FAR more hibernal March 19, 2013. (To be fair, the spring equinox took place the following day on March 20, 2013, but you get the point!)

So here we are, at the cusp of spring, and far less wintery that spring equinoxes past. I gather optimism where I can!