What we enjoyed the most was seeing the daffodils, crocuses and other early springtime flowers soaking up the warm spring sun after a cold winter of sleet and snow. The dogwood tree with its white blossoms and tiny flowers was exceptional. The tulip tree grows naturally in most parts of Arkansas and is a cousin to the magnolia. During April and May it has beautiful greenish-yellow, tulip-shaped blossoms. Of course, there is more to spring than traipsing around in the woods on the hill. You may wonder what springtime is like in İstanbul. A lot of weeding and planting is going on around the city. If you visit places like Metro, Koçtaş, Bauhaus, Praktiker or a greenhouse now you will see hordes of people choosing the plants and flowers with which to decorate their gardens.
The İstanbul Municipality has gone all out this year in planting flowers, especially tulips, since there is a tulip festival for two weeks in April in the city. After all, the city has a rightful claim to this wonderful bulb, the tulip! This may be considered the national flower of Holland, but it is said that the first tulips to be grown in Europe were in the gardens of Topkapı Palace. No wonder the local authority has planted so many of them in the parks and along the roads.
My grandmother had her own top 10 backyard signs of spring. Please forgive me if your backyard (or as the British say, garden,) does not have all 10 of these signs. (Of course, she cheated!) Look on the bright side: Winter is almost over and spring is nearly here!
Birdhouses are reoccupied by old tenants such as the bluebirds, cardinals and other small, cavity-nesting birds.
Robins reappear on her lawn prospecting for worms.
Woodpeckers begin drumming and mating.
There’s a lot more of nature singing during sunny days.
Chorus frogs start calling.
Butterflies are flying on warm afternoons.
And the list goes on.
Oh, I have to admit that she claimed the nearby hill as a part of her backyard, but it really belonged to the government veteran hospital, known as Foot Roots, which kept the grounds immaculate.
What are some signs of spring in İstanbul?
Naturally the birds, butterflies and flowers are all signs:
Beautiful pinkish flowers appear along the Bosporus.
Colorful hydrangeas spring up everywhere.
Narcissus and willows come to life at Emirgan.
English magnolias brighten up Erenkoy.
Cherry blossom, yellow wildflowers and poppies are scattered around the city, and morning glory flowers are everywhere.
But there are a few more -- ones we did not have in Arkansas.
Have you heard the brass bands in school courtyards practicing for the special celebration?
Have you noticed the large street banners draped across the main roads announcing Children’s Day on April 23? These are clear signs of spring in İstanbul.
Other announcements also indicate that spring has arrived in the city. For many foreigners things begin to wind down as they prepare to leave in the summer. Among the expat community announcements for sales of furniture and cars increase. For those of us staying the fun just begins as concerts and film festivals begin.
Now that the wintry months of January and February are over and the uncertainty of March has passed, enjoy spring. Warmer weather brings us many of our favorite things: birds, flowers, butterflies and best of all, an end to being cooped up inside the house during cold, wet, nasty winter days.
They say one swallow does not make a summer. There are plenty of signs though that spring has come. It’s time to get outside to look for other hopeful signs that spring is on its way.
Have fun exploring!
Note: Keep your questions and observations coming: I want to ensure this column is a help to you, Today's Zaman's readers. Email: c.mcpherson@todayszaman.com
