It might seem like there wasn’t a lot going on in your garden after the long cold of winter, but your garden in spring is waking up. You’ll soon start to notice flowers, insects and other animals. There’s a lot going on in spring. Head outside and explore: what flowers and animals can you see?
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Daffodils
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Daffodils mean spring is coming! These bright, sunshine-yellow blooms are one of the first flowers to bloom in early spring.
Dandelions
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If you spot one dandelion, there are probably lots of them! That’s because each dandelion seed has roughly 100 feathery bristles called pappus, which help them to float in the air and travel far.
Bluebells
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You can probably guess how bluebells got their name: they look like tiny little bells, don’t they? But did you know that it’s against the law to deliberately pick bluebells? They’re delicate too, and if you stand on them, it takes them a long time to recover. So, if you have any in your garden, tread carefully and look after them.
Pansies
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The word pansy comes from the French word ‘penser‘, which means ‘to think’. What do you suppose flowers think about? Sunshine, probably…
Snowdrops
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These flowers can grow even when it’s snowing, which is why they’re called snowdrops. They might look pretty, but they’re also very tough.
Crocus
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Crocus is often called a ‘light bulb flower’ because before it blooms, the buds look like light bulbs.
Bees
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The first bumble bees you see are probably the queens, who have survived their hibernation and are now looking for nectar and pollen from the spring flowers.
Butterflies
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Most butterflies spend the winter in their chrysalis, ready to emerge in spring. When they emerge, you’ll see them flying around to collect nectar from the spring flowers, just like bees.
Hedgehogs
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Male hedgehogs are usually the first to emerge from hibernation, but both males and females will be hungry, travelling up to two miles each night as they search for food.
Ants
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Ants hibernate for winter too. As the weather grows colder, ants slow down until they stop, like pressing ‘pause’. If you see them in spring, they’re probably busy clearing the entrances to their nests or gathering food.
Blackbirds
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Male blackbirds are black, but female blackbirds are brown! That’s confusing, isn’t it?
Starling
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Starlings are one of the most common birds in the UK. You might think a starling is a blackbird at a distance because they also have dark feathers (called plumage) and yellow beaks.
Frogs and toads
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Frogs and toads start spawning in spring. That means they start laying their eggs, which look like a strange kind of jelly. If you have a pond in your garden, keep an eye out for frogspawn at the edges.
Squirrels
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Squirrels hibernate for the winter, but when they emerge in spring, they’ll be hungry! If you see them in your garden, they’ll be on the hunt for food. They’ll be very interested in your bird feeder if you have one.
Looking for more outdoor nature exploration ideas: why not explore your local community and see what nature interest groups are active in your area? Visit your local council website to find out about nature reserves close to you.
USEFUL LINKS:
- 7 animals and birds to discover this spring
- Wildlifewatch Wild Spring: top five things to look for
- Top 10 spring flowering bulbs
- Gardening: The Top Ten Spring Plants to Help Pollinating Insects
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