Hello Spring! The Vernal Equinox

​The vernal equinox is almost upon us, which means spring is almost here! The weather is getting warmer, the days are growing longer, and soon the flowers will be blooming. But what is the vernal equinox, and why do we celebrate it?

​What is the Vernal Equinox?

Let’s start with what an equinox is. There are two equinoxes every year: the vernal equinox and the autumnal equinox. On these days, neither hemisphere is tilted more towards the sun than the other. The sun shines directly over the equator, making the length of day and night roughly the same, no matter where you are on the planet. The word “equinox” comes to us from the Latin aequus, meaning equal, and nox, meaning night.

​After an equinox, one hemisphere will begin tilting towards the sun, while the other tilts away. The hemisphere tilting towards the sun will start to see more daylight hours and less hours of darkness as it moves into its spring season. This is called the vernal equinox, “vernal” meaning something that relates to or occurs during the spring.

​The hemisphere tilting away from the sun, however, will start to see less daylight hours, and more hours of darkness as it moves into its autumn season. This is the autumnal, or fall, equinox.  

​So, for us here in the Northern hemisphere, the approaching equinox is vernal, signaling the start of spring!

When is the Vernal Equinox?

​The vernal equinox occurs sometime between March 19th and 21st. This year, it’s on March 20th.

​What Does That Mean for Me?

​The start of spring heralds warmth and new growth, and there are lots of ways you can take advantage of the upcoming season.  

​With the daylight hours starting to outpace the nighttime hours, spend more time outside! Go for walks, visit the park, or (once they start opening), spend an afternoon at the pool.

​With warmer weather on the way, it’s a good time to get planting. If you’re thinking of starting a garden, check out our list of what to plant in the spring so you’ll know what species will do well. If you’re looking to help those pollinators get a head-start on their busy season (and bring more birds, bees, and beautiful butterflies to your yard!) check out our list of what to plant to attract pollinators. 

As the weather warms, you’ll also start to see your trees budding leaves. In addition to enjoying the greenery, be sure to keep your eyes out for signs that your tree might be in decline. 

If you see something suspicious, it might be time to call in a Certified Arborist to take a look! Feel free to give Classic City Arborists a call to schedule your free quote today.

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Author

Emily Casuccio is sister and sister-in-law to Rebekah and Scott Rushing, and has worked with Classic City Arborists for the last 5 years. In addition to handling administrative tasks and customer communication (she’s the voice you’ll hear on the phone!), Emily is an experienced copywriter, editor, and storyboard consultant. To learn more about her, read samples of her work, or contact her, visit her online portfolio.

Sources:
National Geographic
Farmer’s Almanac

Images:
Aniket Bhattacharya on Unsplash
Jake Givens on Unsplash
Sandie Clarke on Unsplash