# Early harbingers of spring where you live **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 12, 2014, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/early-harbingers-of-spring-where-you-live/678592 "2014-01-12T17:49:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Laggard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9de053/32.png) [@Laggard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Laggard)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2014, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/early-harbingers-of-spring-where-you-live/678592/41 "2014-01-14T17:52:24Z")
> [@control-z](#): > > Christmas merchandise appears in stores. Yep. That’s roughly a month away. ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2014, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/early-harbingers-of-spring-where-you-live/678592/42 "2014-01-14T19:59:51Z")
Colorado: the snow changes from a few inches of powder overnight to a couple feet of heavy wet snow over the weekend. If you didn’t have a calendar or any other way to mark the length of days, it would be the massive blizzards that tell you spring is upon you. ---
**Author:** ![yanceylebeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yanceylebeef/32/12290_2.png) [@yanceylebeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yanceylebeef)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2014, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/early-harbingers-of-spring-where-you-live/678592/43 "2014-01-14T20:07:16Z")
I came in to say the same the that **The Great Sun Jester** just posted, so I’ll mention that growing up in Northwest Washington, Skunk cabbage was our earliest indicator that spring was right around the corner. ---
**Author:** ![Pai325](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Pai325](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pai325)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2014, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/early-harbingers-of-spring-where-you-live/678592/44 "2014-01-15T00:22:52Z")
It’s still light at 5PM. ---
**Author:** ![James\_Toothpaste](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e56c9b/32.png) [@James\_Toothpaste](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/James_Toothpaste)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2014, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/early-harbingers-of-spring-where-you-live/678592/45 "2014-01-15T00:50:17Z")
Grass Robins Daffodils ---
**Author:** ![carnut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnut/32/3531_2.png) [@carnut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnut)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2014, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/early-harbingers-of-spring-where-you-live/678592/46 "2014-01-15T00:54:19Z")
> [@control-z](#): > > Christmas merchandise appears in stores. Southern Hemisphere? ---
**Author:** ![Big\_Blue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/51bf81/32.png) [@Big\_Blue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Big_Blue)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2014, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/early-harbingers-of-spring-where-you-live/678592/47 "2014-02-25T15:28:51Z")
Spring is officially here. 🙂 Two days ago, we had sufficient snowmelt to be able to see the edges of the front yard, as well as some strong sun. The winter aconite is blooming and several snowdrops opened. The crocus are blooming in the grass in the front yard, though most of it is still snow covered. And as I look at the window just now to see how much snow cover there still is in the neoighbors back yard, I realize that it is snowing!! I guess I should change that to “Spring _was_ officially here.” For a minute at least. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2014, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/early-harbingers-of-spring-where-you-live/678592/48 "2014-02-25T15:42:41Z")
Our hens have begun laying an occasional egg. ---
**Author:** ![Finagle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@Finagle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Finagle)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2014, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/early-harbingers-of-spring-where-you-live/678592/49 "2014-02-25T19:00:17Z")
> [@carnut](#): > > It’s when the cardinals start making their territorial calls as others return from parts south. I actually heard a robin making territory calls last week as we exited the deep freeze. I had the local cardinal calling in my yard last week. ---
**Author:** ![slightly\_askew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d07c76/32.png) [@slightly\_askew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slightly_askew)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2014, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/early-harbingers-of-spring-where-you-live/678592/50 "2014-02-25T19:13:02Z")
The snow has melted enough so that I can see the daffodils, snowdrops and crocuses pushing through the earth. The birds are singing their mating songs. And, sadly, the amount of road kill is increasing. ---
**Author:** ![Becky2844](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@Becky2844](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Becky2844)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2014, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/early-harbingers-of-spring-where-you-live/678592/51 "2014-02-25T21:17:35Z")
When the Snowbirds pack up and leave and the Spring Breakers start rolling in. (March.) We’re a beach town. ---
**Author:** ![LilyoftheField](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/13edae/32.png) [@LilyoftheField](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LilyoftheField)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2014, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/early-harbingers-of-spring-where-you-live/678592/52 "2014-02-25T21:59:18Z")
> [@Finagle](#): > > Robins generally don’t actually leave during the winter. They just hang out in the woods. So as harbingers of spring, they are very overrated. Red-winged blackbirds are more reliable (and noisier). Well, yay! 'cuz I just saw a half dozen redwings in my yard the other day! and though I’ve seen robins come out of hiding early before, this is the first time I’ve seen redwinged blackbirds so early! And a week or two ago, I even spotted a few eastern (rufous-sided) towhees - and I’ve never seen towhees in winter before! ---
**Author:** ![Hollow\_mask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Hollow\_mask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hollow_mask)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2014, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/early-harbingers-of-spring-where-you-live/678592/53 "2014-02-25T22:43:47Z")
I thought this thread was "early hamburgers of spring. " Mmm…early hamburgers. I’d better eat something. I’m new here. Are purposely stupid comments allowed ? 'Cause those are some of my favorite. I have trouble staying serious, at times. ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2014, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/early-harbingers-of-spring-where-you-live/678592/54 "2014-02-25T23:59:00Z")
The state flower, the [California Poppy](http://www.statesymbolsusa.org/California/CAstateflower.html), starts bursting forth at all sorts of random locations, like highway meridians. Usually mid-February, so one of the earlier harbingers. I love 'em. And flowering ornamental fruit trees, like cherries, go crazy in February. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2014, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/early-harbingers-of-spring-where-you-live/678592/55 "2014-02-26T00:06:55Z")
> [@Hollow\_mask](#): > > I thought this thread was "early hamburgers of spring. " Mmm…early hamburgers. I’d better eat something. I’m new here. Are purposely stupid comments allowed ? 'Cause those are some of my favorite. I have trouble staying serious, at times. Personally, I frown on humor/humour.☹ ---
**Author:** ![picunurse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7bcc69/32.png) [@picunurse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picunurse)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2014, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/early-harbingers-of-spring-where-you-live/678592/56 "2014-02-26T00:46:54Z")
Crocus at the back door, roses have leaves. ---
**Author:** ![jimbuff314](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c57346/32.png) [@jimbuff314](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jimbuff314)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2014, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/early-harbingers-of-spring-where-you-live/678592/57 "2014-02-26T01:53:50Z")
Wild onion has sprouted all around town. Some of them are coming close to a foot tall by now. Somehow they seem a bit early this year. ---
**Author:** ![carnut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnut/32/3531_2.png) [@carnut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnut)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2014, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/early-harbingers-of-spring-where-you-live/678592/58 "2014-02-26T02:17:42Z")
> [@Finagle](#): > > Robins generally don’t actually leave during the winter. They just hang out in the woods. Here in Minnesota, the robins migrate unless it has been a mild winter and they are able to find food. That is certainly not the case this year. The first one I saw and heard was just recently. Now, with our third polar freeze, I am a bit worried about them. But I see signs that the ground is warming up despite the cold air. So maybe they have been able to find a few warmish pockets of air and food as well. ---
**Author:** ![Hollow\_mask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Hollow\_mask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hollow_mask)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2014, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/early-harbingers-of-spring-where-you-live/678592/59 "2014-02-26T02:21:57Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > Personally, I frown on humor/humour.☹ Ok. Why the two spellings ? Are You British ? Not that that matters. I wasn’t sure my comment even qualified. No, it didn’t. I did go and get a hamburger. Nothin’ funny about that, is there ? Nothing notable, either. It will take a while to get the hang of this place. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2014, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/early-harbingers-of-spring-where-you-live/678592/60 "2014-02-26T02:24:43Z")
When the weather gets warm enough that there’s at least half a column of garage sales listed in the want ads, then you know that spring is on the way. Pay no attention to the groundhog. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/early-harbingers-of-spring-where-you-live/678592.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/early-harbingers-of-spring-where-you-live/678592.md?page=4)