It’s time to … smell spring!!

Signs of spring ... I think it’s spring.

What’s that expression: April snow/rain/snow/flooding brings May flowers?
Well, it’s something like that, but I think I am safe to say (or type) the smell of spring is in the air! (And if I hear the word blizzard, it better because someone walked in my door with some DQ!!!))

For me, the signs of spring are the little crocus flowers that pop up in my yard.
I didn’t plant them there, but I’m pretty sure a squirrel did and forgot where it planted them, which I feel just like that squirrel every time I walk into the pantry to grab something and forget why I went in there.

The crocus flower symbolizes hope, joy, and new beginnings. It embodies resilience and cheerfulness.
And after the winter season we all just had (and the drama happening in the world right now) — cheerfulness is something we all could use.

Spring is the time when everyone goes into a cleaning frenzy, airing everything out after being cooped up all winter.

Germany is famous for airing it out! While most of us wait until spring, lüften is a daily, year-round ritual in Germany, often performed even in the coldest winter to prevent mold, reduce humidity, and improve indoor air quality. They do it at least twice daily — opening windows wide, often on opposite sides of the house for cross-ventilation — for about 10 minutes.

Don’t know about you, but if I opened my windows for 10 minutes in the dead of winter, I would definitely hear my mother’s voice in my head asking me if I was heating the whole town, and something about me living in a barn.

In the early days of spring, I get the urge to write a list of things I want to scrub down. Then that urge passes, and I go check out the plans my hubby has for his vegetable gardens. For those who don’t know me, I can’t grow anything! When my boys give me flowers or a plant, they do this knowing that it will not see the following weekend.

My youngest has made a workaround for this problem: He bought me several Lego flower sets for Mother’s Day and my birthday. For anyone who has done these, they are adorable — and VERY HARD! I have struggled to make every one that I have received — to the point where I am telling everyone in my house that Lego messed up … they are missing pieces!

Hubby gets a good laugh pointing out that over the many years we have purchased Lego for our boys, not once has a piece ever been missing. He doesn’t understand! That grey looks like that grey, and why are the pieces so small!!???

Needless to say, my hubby has told my youngest to stop buying Lego flowers, as “someone has problems following the pictures.”

I love flowers! They are beautiful, especially sunflowers. I planted tulips in my front flower bed more than 26 years ago (again, not my choice, but I was told that is what you do when you buy a home). Thank goodness these things look after themselves, and over the years, new colours have appeared. Some of the tulips are even growing out in the middle of my lawn!

Spring brings many surprises! (Yes, it is probably the same squirrel who planted the crocuses.)

If you are into flowers, April and May are great times to visit Europe with blooms coming to life everywhere. Lisse, Netherlands, is a great place to “tiptoe” through the tulips — early May is prime time for the world’s largest flower garden and surrounding tulip fields.

You may know this already, but the Netherlands sends thousands of tulip bulbs to Canada every year as a thank-you gift for sheltering the Dutch Royal Family during the Second World War. This act of gratitude is celebrated every year at the Canadian Tulip Festival in Ottawa. So, if you find yourself near Ottawa May 8-18, check out Commissioners Park, which will feature more than 300,000 tulips to celebrate spring and the historic ties to the Netherlands.

Other places to check out spring blooms include Santorini, Greece, where you can see wildflowers without the summer crowds. If you get the chance, April/May is a great time to explore Lisbon, Portugal, and take photos of the vibrant purple jacaranda trees.

And we can’t talk about spring blooms without mentioning Seville, Spain, where the city is filled with orange blossoms.

Cherry blossom season in Asia typically peaks from January to May — starting in Vietnam (January to February), Taiwan (mid-January), and South Korea (late March to early April).

If you are thinking about spring in Europe, key things you should remember:

Weather is unpredictable — the UK, Ireland, and Central Europe can be chilly or wet
April is a great month — tulips are at their peak, and southern destinations are warm but not scorching
Pricing is more affordable (except during Easter, prices do go up during this time)
Packing layers is important — including a waterproof, windproof jacket
Make sure you pack proper footwear! Comfortable and able to handle puddles from unexpected rain
Even though it is shoulder season, purchasing “skip-the-line” excursions is a smart idea.

Spring is a great time to visit Europe. Let’s plan ahead so we can check out what festivals are happening — like the tulip festival in the Netherlands or the flowers blooming in Portugal!

Spring doesn’t always have to be about airing things out and going on a cleaning frenzy … sometimes you just need to stop and smell the flowers!