Springtime in Michigan!

I was catching up on my morning nap, and as I woke up, I realized it was spring in Michigan. March 20th is the first day of spring! Visions of butterflies, flowers, green grass, leaves, and the feel of the bright sun warming up my face and arms as I embrace the glories of spring! In that spring state of mind, I opened my eyes and looked out of my sliding glass door, and the stark reality of Michigan Spring hit my view; it was 2 inches of fresh spring snow! I looked at my outside thermometer and noted the temperature was 21 degrees. I hope the butterflies are still snug in their eggs, waiting to break out as caterpillars to eat and develop into one of nature’s many gifts. The butterfly cycle starts as egg, larva (caterpillar), pupa (chrysalis( and adult butterfly! I have a couple of friends who help many Monarch butterflies work through this cycle and celebrate by setting them free into nature! Wow! What a hobby!

The challenge with a Michigan spring is what to wear. One day it may be 70 degrees, and the next day it may be 30 degrees. It is also known to swing in temperature, which could cause extinction in some critters. I often start out with a warm coat, hat & gloves. By mid-morning, I take off the hat & gloves and switch to a light spring jacket. Late afternoon,
I lose the jacket and look around for some sandals or crocks to wear on my feet as the snow has melted away. Then, as the sun begins to set, which thankfully is later and later each day, I resume wearing my jacket and walking shoes and sometimes catch a little chill. The Spring Equinox is an astronomical event where the sun is directly over the earth’s equator, resulting in roughly equal amounts of daylight and darkness across the globe!

Daily clothes swapping continues with various outfits to survive the transition to summer. I love this time of year as you can observe life awakening from its sleeping state with renewal or rebirth. The trees begin to bud, the grass begins to grow, migratory birds return, ponds fill up with polliwogs, and baby animals are born!

What is in our future? April showers, May flowers, and, of course, the return of insects! Lots of insects, crawling, climbing, flying, swimming, and biting insects. My area includes buffalo gnats that leave a nice welt after a bite and mosquitos that get so prolific that you drive through swarms of them and hear them bouncing off the windshield. The little “Vampires” seem to be everywhere outside and some inside the house. Have you ever tried to fall asleep with one of the little buggars you can hear off in the distance? The noise gets louder the closer they get, and then it goes silent! Your eyes open wide, you try to sense a bite, and then your arms flail around like the robot from “Lost In Space!” Then things settle down until you hear the familiar whine of that darn skeeter coming at you again in the dark! As it lands on your forehead and you swiftly dispatch it with a mighty slap, the feeling of power and relief is indescribably delicious!

Next up, Summer!

“Remember, every day is a gift! Some are just a little more fun to open than others. – © Joel M. Vernier 3/25/2025 Author of: “The Guinea Pig In The Freezer.” [email protected]