Prairie winters are long, cold, dark, and snowy. As Canadians in the area like to boast, "We have eight months of winter and four months of poor skiing."
Small wonder, then, that after groundhogs such as Wiarton Willie and Balzac Billy have made their predictions about the coming spring, Canucks begin to hope for a break in the frosty weather. Once that break comes, families often take a walk or a drive or a bike ride during the warming days to see if they can spot the first signs of spring.
So, taking groundhogs as the first harbingers of the season, here are some favorite signs of spring to watch for on the prairies (after Billy, they are not necessarily in order of appearance, as this varies widely with location)
- Balzac Billy watches for his shadow.
- Pussy willows fluff out
- The first robin arrives
- Green grass appears on south-facing slopes
- The first gopher pops up his head
- Prairie crocuses are seen in sunny sheltered areas
Balzac Billy Predicts Early or Late Spring
"The Prairie's answer to Punxsutawney Phil" in Pennsylvania, the Canadian groundhog Wiarton Willie has been touted since 1956 as an official springtime prognosticator. (If the groundhog sees his shadow, there will be six more weeks of winter; if not, there will be an early spring.) The Willie festival was created by the town of Wiarton, Ontario as a tourist attraction and mid-winter break. Some time later, the prairie town of Balzac, AB brought the critter festival west.
So what if the poor rodent only has a success rate of 37%? So what if Wiarton's not in the prairies? So what if Balzac Billy isn't even a real groundhog but a dress-up mascot? In the bleak days of February, prairie dwellers (And Ontarioans! And Pennsylvanians!) need a festival, and if a groundhog provides an excuse, then as Willie says, "Party on!"
The First Robin is a Sign of Spring
The American robin, with its red breast and early-morning "spring-is-here" chirrup is one of the cheeriest signs of spring. Like many Canadian "snowbirds", the robin winters in Florida, Mexico, and the Pacific Coast (unlike the other snowbirds, robin doesn't need an RV!). The first robin to arrive is duly noted and happily announced to all and sundry. "I saw a robin today - it must be spring!" (even if there's still a foot of snow on the ground).
Green Grass on South-Facing Slopes
As the snow gradually melts, it is south-facing slopes along road-side ditches that seem to green up first. Perhaps that is because the highways are cleared and open, or perhaps because in an automobile-oriented society so many people are on the road and that is where they first notice the grass, long before lawns have shed their blanket of snow and sheet of fuzzy grey snow-mold .
Gophers are a Sign of Spring
The Richardson's ground squirrel, commonly called a gopher on the prairies, is a favorite sign of spring. These cheeky rodents creep out of their winter burrows to bask in the spring sunshine, play tag in the greening grass on the southern exposures, and flick their tails and stand sentinel-tall along the shoulders of prairie roads and highways. Only on the prairies would there be something called a gopher museum - the Gopher Hole Museum in Torrington, Alberta, features displays of stuffed ground squirrels in various amusing setups and is a suitable spring family excursion.
An Endangered Sign of Spring: the Prairie Crocus
When the author was a child, a trip to seek a stand of prairie crocus (or pasque flower or prairie anemone) was a springtime family ritual. Today, shrinking habitat and a dropping water table means that those sunny areas for the first spring picnic, once purple and fuzzy with blooms, have not a crocus in sight.
The prairie crocus is now on Canada's endangered species list. If the reader is lucky enough to find a clutch of prairie crocuses, enjoy them - and please don't pick, dig, or disturb them.
Pussy Willows - a Child's Favorite Sign of Spring
"...The promise of spring / Pussy willows, cat-tails, soft winds and roses, " wrote Canadian singer Gordon Lightfoot, capturing many of the joys of spring on the prairies. Prairie children (and no doubt children wherever willows grow) gather armloads of furry grey willow withes, pelt each other with the fuzzy catkins, use them in crafts and decorations.
Winter-weary, tired of snow and cold? When the days warm up, lace up the boots or hop on the bike (or, as a last resort, get in the car with the windows down!) and go look for signs of spring on the prairies. Perhaps you'll be lucky enough to spot the first robin, pussy willows, gopher, green grass, or even a prairie crocus.
Thomas Alan Gray - Tom has been writing for over 30 years; curiosity leads him to dig into a wide variety of topics.
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