After a long winter, the first signs of spring's arrival provide a welcome reprieve from the cold, wet weather and the short daylight hours we've been stuck with. Stepping outside into the sunshine and seeing the long-hidden flowers beginning to peak out of the ground puts a "spring" in your step and a smile on your face. You can sense that the season of refreshing and renewing is upon you and you experience a desire to react to that feeling. The following are ten ways that you can welcome spring and make the most of this beautiful time.
1-Go outside to your yard and plan your gardens for the year. Both flower and vegetable gardens should be prepared at this time. Plant your bulbs, if you are adding new ones or beginning your first flower garden. An English garden is a beautiful way to go, even for beginners. Soil should be turned, weeded and compost added. Your vegetable garden can be started with seeds inside, until the chance of an additional frost has passed.
2-Spring is the perfect time to get together with your loved ones. Plan your season's first picnic or barbecue with friends and family. Prepare your menu and guest list. Make pretty spring themed invitations to send out and start getting your home and yard ready for its best presentation.
3-It's time for spring cleaning! Set aside a full day to dedicate to the refreshing of your home. Starting at the top and working your way down, dust, wash, shine and organize every nook and cranny. Windows should be washed, ceiling fans and shelves dusted, cupboards wiped down and organized, walls washed, ceilings and corners dusted for cobwebs, appliances cleaned, and floors washed and shined. At the end of your cleaning, place a beautiful bouquet of spring flowers somewhere special in the home. If you don't have any in your yard yet, pick up one from the local florist or grocer.
4-Bring springtime into the home with a color change. The earth tones of autumn and winter can be replaced with the pastels of spring. Accessories and throw pillows can be changed. Candles in votives can be switched out. Decorative towels can be purchased in spring tones. There are many easy ways to bring spring into your decor.
5-Go through your closets and dressers, removing winter clothes and storing them while bringing back your spring/summer wardrobe. If anything is in need of repair, set is aside to do in the evening while you are relaxing with family.
6-Do you pay monthly for a gym membership? This is a wonderful time to cut costs and take your fitness routine outside. You can start a walking group with friends to get ready for the summer clothing lines. You can go hiking and enjoy the beauty of nature coming alive before your eyes. If you live by a beach, there is no more inspirational place to take a jog.
7-May Day is right around the corner, so now is the time to start planning a May Day party. This is a great family event to put on. You will need to get a May Day pole set up with ribbons streaming from it for the children to dance around. Take pictures and video the dancing to save these memories long after the day. A potluck-style picnic works well for these parties. Purchase a bunch of baskets from a thrift store and plenty of loose flowers. Allow the children to put together flower baskets to place on the doorsteps of the homes in your neighborhood, with supervision from adults. May Day parties are so much fun, yet often forgotten. You can be the one to bring them back to your family and friends.
8-The birds will be arriving back to your yard after their winter vacation, so you can get ready to welcome them home. Bird baths and bird feeders are not only useful to our feathered friends, they are also aesthetically appealing to decorate your yard with. If you provide bird houses, you will likely have some take up residence to begin their families. When you hear the chirping of babies and see them poking their heads out in preparation for flight lessons, you will be glad that you took the time to provide them with a nice place to start out.
9-Give the exterior of your home a facelift. Spring is a perfect time to go out on a clear, dry day and wash the outside of your windows, check the roof for moss that may have grown over the winter, and refresh the trim paint...or all the paint, if you want to. Wash down doors and shine door handles. Sweep steps and sidewalks. You'll be amazed at the difference these small projects will make.
10-When spring arrives, we know that summer is right on its heels. What better time to go through your summer equipment and make sure that all is ready for that first warm weekend? Camping equipment, boating supplies and other outdoor gear should be checked for any repairs needed or supplies that need to be replenished.
The above ways of welcoming spring will put a warm, sunny feeling in your heart as you refresh and rejuvenate everything around you. Spring is a lovely season of new life and growth. These ten tips will get you well on your way to a season of beauty and nature's blessings.