A search for signs of spring

Posted by Lucy

As the days lengthened and the sun grew warmer, Mr. Cardinal knew it was time to begin reporting and searching out the signs that the next and most exciting season of all, spring, was speedily overtaking the cold weather. March had been very cold this year, but as that interesting month prepared to depart, it grew suddenly warmer. And so today, the third of April, Mr. Cardinal, Jack, Phronsie,  Pippet and Bobbin (who was armed with a notebook), set out to search for signs of spring.

 

“Feel how warm the sun is!” said Pippet, dancing along. “And look at all the new grass pushing its way up from the ground!” added Phronsie, joyfully examining the new green blades.” Write those down Bobbin,” said Mr. Cardinal,” those are two sure signs that spring is here. Keep your eyes open for more as we walk along,” he added as Bobbin wrote “warm sunshine “ and “new green grass” first on her list.

“I see one!” she said, running up to a tree. “See, leaf buds.” They climbed all sorts of trees to examine the buds.

 

 

“Look, pussy willows!” cried Phronsie.  ”Ooh, they’re soft.” said Pippet, when she had climbed high enough to touch the fluffy catkins. ”Put those on your list too,” said Mr. Cardinal, and Bobbin did.

“Look, at those!” said Phronsie, pointing overhead. “Those don’t look like leaf buds, those look like flower blossoms.” said Bobbin. ”They are,” said Mr. Cardinal, “those are witch hazel blossoms.” He flew up to grab some, while Bobbin recorded them on her list.

“And look here,” said Mr. Cardinal, breaking a twig off a large tree. ” This is a type of maple blossom.” The list showed forth yet another name.

“Oh, look what I found,” said Pippet. “Sprouts!” “These will be scilla flowers,” said Mr. Cardinal.

“Hey, look, a bud!” exclaimed Bobbin and “scilla bud” replaced “scilla sprouts” in her notebook.

"But man, this is the best yet!” shouted  Jack, as he came upon an actual flower. "Scilla blossom” then replaced “scilla bud.” 

 They gathered round the flower, while Jack guarded it as if it were his own.

Later they admired all the things they had found. It was a pleasing collection. And that night they used pussy willow catkins for pillows.