In Like a Lion, Out Like a Lamb: The Vernal Vocabulary of Spring

To realign his calendar with the vernal equinox, Pope Gregory removed 10 days from the middle of October. Wall Street Journal (Feb 26, 2016)

Now that we’ve passed the fall equinox, it is time for the weather to cool off and the trees to change color. New York Times (Oct 7, 2015)

The delta is the heart of the water system in California, with miles of rivers interlacing fecund farmland. US News (May 22, 2015)

Water, land, and sky all meet in a complex mosaic, making conditions right for a lush rainforest that’s teeming with life. National Geographic (Mar 3, 2016)

As oceans warm, toxic algae proliferate and cause so-called red tides because the water looks reddish. Science Magazine (Dec 14, 2015)

It was clear to the bottom and bright with the efflorescence of tropical weed and coral. Lord of the Flies

The richest resource for arable farmers is soil. Nature (Apr 25, 2017)

The waiters wear ties and crisp white vests, and plants throughout the room give it a lush, tropical feel. New York Times (Mar 1, 2016)

Five floral bouquets brightened the place, and a pot of luxuriant white orchids was perched on the coffee table. New York Times (Apr 9, 2015)

Rising up on all sides, steep slopes burgeoned with Japanese cedar, acacia and wild pine. Washington Post (Dec 14, 2015)

The actual composting will not begin until the weather begins to thaw. Los Angeles Times (Feb 12, 2017)

I long for glorious springtime at Monticello, a time of rebirth and renewal. Washington Post (Feb 16, 2018)

Beyond capturing the cyclical transformations of season—verdant kudzu shrivelled brown, bare trees turned fruitful—the photographs highlight the creeping passage of time. The New Yorker (Dec 6, 2016)

The green shoots of the daffodils we planted last fall finally emerged through the last patch of snow.

When fields bloom, usually from late March to late April, zephyr-rippled seas of red, yellow and pink draw throngs of camera-toting tourists. Seattle Times (Mar 14, 2018)

One morning in early summer, a renewing warmth in the air, Obinze arrived at the warehouse and knew right away that something was amiss. Americanah

Right in front of us, and with not a cloud to interrupt the view, lay this extinct volcano of an island, densely covered with the most luxuriant verdure. Scherzer, Karl Ritter von

The scent of blossoms hung in the air, not just from damask roses but pinks, Persian lilacs and jasmine. Washington Post (Mar 15, 2018)

It is April now, and the rain falls in sweet showers that hathe every root and swelling hud of nature. Ophelia

At midday, despite a scorching sun, Granny, seemingly indefatigable, went about with impressive skill trimming the rosebushes as we talked about trees and flowers and how to best cultivate them. Kaffir Boy: An Autobiography