March-ing Into Spring!
- navakallc
- Mar 30, 2024
- 3 min read
Suddenly, I wake up one day to the birds’ chirping, the sun streaming in through my windows instead of the usual Seattle rainy gloom. The air feels lighter and a smile creeps up on my face. This can only mean one thing. Spring is here! I look forward for this day since the beginning of the new year, January and February being the most depressing months for me.
The weather during those two months is constantly switching its choice on raining or snowing, especially because we live in Seattle. While the only good things during those months are the snow days we get off from school, spring is a much brighter time. Since I’ve grown up in India, I’ve been used to looking out and seeing the sun every day, the sun peeking out for a bit even during the rainy season, and so, I’ve always felt happier and warmer when it’s out. Which is why spring is even more special for me.
When the air changes, and the sun peeks out, the trees become happier too, wanting to grow colorful and into full bloom. The thing that I was most enthralled by during my first spring in the United States is the way that the trees are all bare and sad during the winter months, and how they transform themselves during the spring by getting flowers before the leaves. Those most characteristically are cherry blossoms. The blooming trees come in all kinds of colors, ranging from the most formal white, baby pink to the darkest shade of pink, almost as if it’s purple. It’s magical to walk through the lanes of cherry blossoms, even the slightest breeze twirling the petals onto the ground.
Since the city’s trees are all planted like a planned garden, there are designated roads where cherry blossoms surround you on both sides, like your own personal entrance towards the gateways of spring. Even though humans don’t hibernate, it’s like all the people in Seattle go outside on the first sunny day of the year, basking in the rays and taking in the beautiful sight. Nature is something I’ve come to cherish after living here, especially because it can be so moody sometimes.
Along with the cherry blossoms, there are two other beautiful flowers that are in full bloom during the spring. They’re called tulips and daffodils. There are huge farms (about 10-15 acres) where they are planted each year for people to visit, enjoy, and of course, take a lot of pictures. The nearest one to us is about 2 hours away, in a county called Skagit Valley. My favorite moments are sitting in the car, driving there, blasting music in the car and looking at the changed world just because the sun is now shining and spring is here.
As we cruise along the freeway, getting closer to our destination, we can see bright yellow flowers in the distance, and as we roll down our windows, can hear the screeching of the migrating snow geese, now leaving their winter refuge to go back home. Their beautiful white feathers are in perfect with the other birds as they glide in huge flocks, in groups so thick that it’s hard to see past them. Their harmony mesmerizes me each time, contrasting perfectly with the beautiful yellow bell-shaped flowers known as daffodils. It’s a tradition for my family now to go to those farms each year, taking photos, watching the geese, and simply taking a break from reality. Ever since high school started, it’s truly been a blessing to go there each year and be one with nature.
A few weeks after the daffodil season comes the era of the tulips, their various colors of pink, purple, yellow, white, red and so on bright and vivid against the blue sky. The atmosphere there is so stunning, with people there with families, and all you can see for miles are the different colored flowers and the big snow-capped Mt. Baker, one of the three volcanoes in Washington. The enormity of the volcano against the bright colored flowers and you in the middle feels surreal, like you’re in a dream where two different realities merge together.
Spring is truly a special season in Seattle, where it is truly appreciated as we usually get so much rain throughout the year. The difference is noticeable in school as well. Everybody starts wearing shorts and tank tops, the mood is uplifted and everybody is happy because of the sun. It’s truly special, especially for someone like me who loves the sun.