Yesterday we explained the three different ways that are commonly used to determine when Spring has begun.

But apart from this there are common signs which make it abundantly clear that no matter which way you look at it, Spring has begun.

One of the first signs that spring has sprung are the presence of tree buds. A plant’s buds act as a shield for the delicate flowers inside. Flowers of different shapes, sizes and forms come with individual and distinct protection. Throughout winter these buds remain closed and dormant, surviving the cold until their time comes to thrive in the spring, making a vibrant emergence from their compact casing.

Plants need water, light, warmth, and soil or compost to grow. They get the perfect conditions they need to grow in spring – when there are often more rain showers and sunlight compared to the cold winter. The increase in daylight not only provides plants with the light they need; it also warms up the soil.

In short, spring nurtures the growth of plants and trees. Depending on the tree, you may see it start sporting new leaves from as early as mid-August in the Southern Hemisphere.

Flowers, like daffodils, also begin to bud and grow. Just take a look outside during the spring, and you’ll be able to see life all around you – from leaves on trees to singing birds, it’s magical to observe.

In various places of the Quraan, Allah alerts our attention to His Power and how amazingly Allah brings the dead trees and plants back to life.

يُخْرِجُ ٱلْحَىَّ مِنَ ٱلْمَيِّتِ وَيُخْرِجُ ٱلْمَيِّتَ مِنَ ٱلْحَىِّ وَيُحْىِ ٱلْأَرْضَ بَعْدَ مَوْتِهَا ۚ وَكَذَٰلِكَ تُخْرَجُوونَ

He brings out the living from the dead and the dead from the living, and gives life to the earth after its death. Likewise you shall be brought forth to life after your death. [Ar Rum 30: 19]

This is undoubtedly the easiest way to determine the beginning of Spring.

What happens to animals in spring?

Animals become more active in spring, with many emerging from a hibernation that lasts the entire winter. Bears, bats, hedgehogs, squirrels and hummingbirds are only some examples of the many animals that hibernate.

When animals wake from their hibernation, they usually do so to enjoy the abundance of food available in the spring, to find a mate, or to have their babies.

This is, of course, all connected.

During the spring season, the days are longer and the weather is warmer, creating an environment conducive to more plant growth. Plants feed herbivorous animals, which, in turn, feed the carnivores.

More food also means a greater chance of survival for their offspring.

On the other hand, some animals find their mate in the fall and then give birth in the spring.

Becoming more active in the spring isn’t just reserved for animals that need to hibernate. Even those that don’t need hibernation also tend to become more active during the spring season.

For example, amphibians, like toads and frogs, start gathering at ponds to breed. Insects, such as bees, also start to gather pollen and nectar from flowering plants in the spring. This is their source of food, and it helps spread the flowers’ seeds so that they can reproduce as well.

Birds start making their nests in the spring. There are many fruits, seeds, insects, and vegetation to feed off, so it’s the perfect time for them to lay eggs and guard them until they hatch.

Many animals can sense that spring has arrived by the length of the day. Days start to get longer during the spring (meaning there’s sunlight for longer) and they get shorter in the winter when the sun sets earlier.