At approximately 1:32 p.m. Eastern time, we will experience the vernal equinox in the Northern Hemisphere. This is a time when the sun appears vertically above a point over the equator and is considered the first day of spring and celebrated worldwide by dancing, fire, music and feasts.  It is a holiday in Japan, the beginning of the Baha’i calendar, and the day Christians use to calculate the date of Easter, the first Sunday after the first full moon following the vernal equinox. To view photographs of vernal equinox celebrations in other countries, visit National Geographic’s website.

Because of the tilt of the Earth’s axis we in the Northern Hemisphere, begin to receive the sun’s rays more directly. The growing season officially begins and food supplies from agriculture and nature will soon be restored to our tables. Mister gardener has tested his soil and plowed his garden. Today the potatoes go in the ground.

Happy Spring! Happy Vernal Equinox! Happy Gardening!

Ann Hohenberger, The Garden Club of Gloucester