When Maine Can Expect to See the First Signs of Spring

Alright, so we know that Maine winters like to stick around a little bit longer than the other seasons, but with spring on deck, here’s what to look out for.

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Even if we think that winter hasn’t fully gotten started in our Pine Tree State, just think about how Groundhog Day is on February 2nd. That’s right around the corner. Groundhog Day derives from the Pennsylvania Dutch superstition that if a groundhog emerges from its burrow and it's sunny and sees his shadow, it's said we'll see six more weeks of winter. If it's cloudy and he doesn't see his shadow, it's said to mean an early spring.

Now, is Groundhog Day the be-all and end-all in regards to predicting the weather? Of course not. But it is a day that gets the thought of ‘springtime’ planted in our heads.

Seriously, if you break it down, we’re only 'a few weeks away' from spring. Everything sounds more manageable when broken down like that, right?

According to the Ypsilanti District Library, there are several distinct and different signs to look for that signal that spring is on the way.

One of the first signs is also one of the most calming; listen for the birds. Walk outside in the early morning—what do you hear? If the birds are tweeting and singing, it’s a sure sign that spring is here. Additionally, the presence of bluebirds is also a great sign that spring is approaching, as they don’t migrate north until all chance of winter has passed. Start listening for chirps from our state bird, the black-capped chickadee.

Another surefire sign that spring is right around the corner is the sight of flowers blooming. This is the most iconic and ‘duh!’ inducing signal for spring, but it’s for a good reason! Daffodil stalks begin shooting through the soil almost before the snow is completely gone. Now, we know that it snows in Maine until seemingly June, but it’s never too early to think about your spring and summer garden.

Obvious but noteworthy is the sight of trees starting to bud and bloom. Keep an eye out for the earliest bloomers that signal the arrival of spring. Some pear trees, flowering cherry trees, willows, and maples are among the first to show buds, with the latter being abundant in Vacationland.

Have you ever had that conversation with your parents about ‘the birds and the bees?’ Well, sure enough, that is another sign of spring. Some bee species begin to emerge as early as February in search of early spring flowers. On sunny days in early spring, you may also see butterflies through the garden. Monarch butterflies begin migrating north again after spending the winter in warm southern climates. Not quite the same, awkward conversation that you had with your parents, but you get the idea.

Each season has its own distinct smells, right? Winter smells like kerosene and wood smoke, while spring has a rich, musty, earthy smell, and we all love it. Most likely a mix of wet earth from early spring showers and the first hints of blooming bushes and flowers in the air, but that smell is a beloved sign that spring is getting closer.

Regardless of these signs, we know that it’ll be ‘a couple of weeks’ until we start to see any of them in Maine. But like we established, that sounds pretty manageable when broken down like that, right?