As an “east-coaster” I’ve always defined spring by the flora.    Spring is about daffodils and tulips and, of course, cherry blossoms.  I expected that, as we moved north and west that we would encounter spring multiple times, much like the “Journey North” activities for kids.  When we left DC spring was almost at an end.  The daffodils and cherry blossoms were gone, the tulips were collapsing in some unusually hot spring days.  The grass was growing at the “mow every 5 days” rate.  (Much to my son’s chagrin).

My initial expectations were met.  As we moved through Mansfield, Chicago, and then Milwaukee, these cities were quite predictably 2-3 weeks behind DC spring.  The tulip magnolias, which are some of the earliest bloomers, in DC were just unfolding.  I had watched that happen at the Philadelphia Zoo more than 3 weeks earlier.

What I did not expect, however, is that spring is not defined by flora at Yellowstone…it’s defined by the fauna…but still by color.  A quick flash of blue and you realize that the mountain bluebirds are back.  A bright orange color out in a field tells you that the baby bisons are starting to arrive.  The elk come up from the valley and begin to shed their coats; going from a fluffy cream color to a much darker brown-grey. And, of course, the bears come out in a rainbow of browns…from very golden grizzlies to very black bears.  It really brought home perspectives–and makes me wonder if, instead of asking students to follow tulips north, we shouln’t be first figuring out how they define spring.