Wyoming in the Springtime
By: Katelyn Parker
March is a month of hope. Hope for warmer weather, longer days, green grass, leaves on the trees and the opportunity to emerge from our winter dwellings to enjoy the outdoors. If you have lived in Wyoming long, you know this hope can be defeating because the realist knows that there will be several more cold days and snow storms leading up to June. The Wyoming winter does not relinquish itself to spring easily and it holds its forward position with everything it can muster. Although the emergence of spring may not be apparent when only observing the weather, springs arrival is evident in other ways, you just have to look closely, and you will see it.
The Color of Spring
The Wyoming landscape takes on stone hues during the winter months. The winter color palette is made up of greys, browns, and dark greens. Some of the first signs of spring is the color change. If you look closely, you can see that the landscape is showing a little more vibrancy with undertones of bright green. This color green is only evident in new growth and a fresh start. This subtle undertone is a promise of what is to come, and it makes the quiet suggestion to not lose hope because, eventually, spring and summer will arrive.
The First Song
On a quiet day, when the wind is calm and the sun is shining, stop and take a listen. In the early spring, migratory birds begin to arrive at their summer homes and begin preparation for their mating season. An early indicator that spring is on the way is the arrival of these birds and if you listen closely and observe the ground, sky and treetops, you may hear their song or catch a glimpse of their colorful bodies. The first time you hear the song of the Meadowlark is a sure sign that warmer weather is right around the corner so keep an ear out and hold on to hope.
New Birth and Rejuvenation
The first sign of spring provokes a change in several of our local animal species. The cow elk begin to move to lower pasture areas to prepare for the birth of their calves, the bears begin to emerge from their hibernation dens and the weasels and hares begin to change from their winter white to their summer brown. Wyoming ranches are celebrating new birth and pasture lands are teaming with cow calves, foals and lambs. The spring is the season for new life and reemergence. The calf may be born in a snowstorm; however, it is still a strong indicator that spring and summer are on their way.
You may be tempted to try to rush the seasons and you may not be able to help the pangs of jealousy that occur when you see the weather forecast for other communities in the contiguous U.S states but as this transition occurs, however slowly, take in each day and observe the changes as they come. Embrace the Wyoming spring and rest assured that the gorgeous Wyoming summer is on its way.