Signs of Spring

This winter was a late one around here. It didn't come on until late December and it lingered into April. So we have been VERY ready for spring. I have loved going on our walks this month amongst the dried dead dusty leaves and sleepy trees because as we have searched diligently for signs of spring every time we go out, we have slowly found them. The grass greening under the dried grass from last year, the first box elder bug, the lake ice slowly receding. This waiting and anticipation has been a great practice in observation. Every week at our nature study Co-op we ask "What signs of spring did you see this week?" and the answers are coming more readily as we are blooming more each day.

This searching and noticing the smallest changes will serve us well in the full glory of summer and as we nature journal honing our observation skills the way we did today when we found a small white flower off the side of the trail. There wasn't much else blooming where we were at so it sat alone in its beauty. We counted the leaves and petals, noticed how it was bunched with four other flowers just like it, how it had 6 other buds and spoke about pollination when a bee landed on it right as we were taking down our narration. Having only the flower to observe it captivated our attention and showed us beauty in the dusty grime of early spring. As the warm sunshine promised greener days ahead I couldn't help but smile in the dry craggy trees at our small find and how enthralling it became to all four children as it would in the splendor of summer. 

I guess my main point to all of this is. Get out there, even when the weather is poor or the season isn't fully on and look for the beauty that you'll certainly find! Enjoy the opportunity to hone their observation skills at the few things you do find by looking longer and asking more questions.