At last, Spring has Sprung. A season of rebirth begins with the equinox. On this day, the sun shines directly on the equator, making the day and night almost equal. The equinox is the point at which the sun crosses the celestial equator from south to north. Spring is the season for new beginnings: farmers start planning their planting season, flowers and plants start to bloom, and many animals come out of hibernation.

With the return of spring and the festivals that accompany, we are again grounded in the rebirth of life. We are delivered from the chaos of winter and the long hours indoors, to walk again on warm soil, to breathe deeply the scents of newly opened flowers and hear the music of returning birds. Behold the season of growing, welcome the vernal equinox.

It’s time to spend a little time in the great outdoors watching plants pushing skyward toward the warmth of the sun or the buds on the trees bulging until finally they simply must burst open in a sea of color that finally chases away the gray of winter. You could stop to listen to the songs of the birds, the buzz of the bees, the chorus of the frogs.

So go outside and enjoy the rebirth and warm fresh spring air. You may see one or two of these “jewels” yearning for the warmth of the sun’s rays along with you.