Grocery stores will soon be stocked up with fresh seasonal fruits, such as strawberries, cherries, and apricots. Flowers are blooming, days are getting longer, and chirping birds return. The final bits of winter are fading away. As the last ice melts and days get longer, we take the opportunity to look forward to the new season.

Springtime is usually associated with flower fields, inspiration, and awakening. The season is sunnier, and the sun positively affects our well-being and mental health. Sunlight exposure increases the amount of the serotonin hormone. Serotonin is one of your body’s neurotransmitters, whose main job is to transfer information between the nerve cells. According to an article in Healthline, “Serotonin in the brain is thought to regulate anxiety, happiness, and mood.” Therefore, spending time outside can boost your energy levels and make you feel better. The sun is also a great source of vitamin D. Keep in mind that the sun can be harmful as UV light can cause issues such as sunburn, aging skin, and more. Despite this, sometimes the sun is still recommended to support your health.

Spring is the time when most flowers bloom. Texas bluebonnets pop up on grass fields and color them blue. The state flower can typically be seen from late February to the end of April. This year there is reason to believe the bluebonnets will bloom a little later than usual due to the cold temperatures the past month. The bluebonnet is not the only beautiful flower that will bloom this spring. Texas has a wide variety of wildflowers which you can read more about here.

“Spring cleaning” is a popular way to kick off the season. The sun peeks through dirty windows and reveals everything we did not see during the winter. Suddenly the dusty ceiling fan is way more visible than before. For some families, spring cleaning has become an annual practice. The purpose is to give your house a deep clean. Families clean out cabinets, the food pantry, and dust because cleaning brings a good feeling. Garage sales usually occur as a result of spring cleaning.

Even before February passed, Easter decorations were already out in the stores. Cute baskets, candy-filled eggs, and plush bunnies are some of the iconic decorations that rule the stores in the coming weeks. This year Easter falls on April 17, when the first full moon occurs after the spring equinox. The spring equinox is when the sun is just above the equator, making the length of the day and night exactly the same. This will happen on March 20, 2022.

The Islamic month of Ramadan is also coming up. From April 2 to May 2, Muslims worldwide will fast during the daytime. When the sun sets, the fast can be broken, and food and water can be consumed. The meal that breaks the fast is called Iftar. The meal before sunrise is called Suhoor/Suhoor.

Students at Melissa are approaching the last quarter of the school year. This means preparing for exams and keeping the final grades up. Junior Katie loves the spring weather and is looking forward to spending more time outside this season.

Chaney Shaw, a junior this year, is not convinced that spring is the best season.

“The spring is when lots of insects come back, and I do not enjoy that because I don’t like bugs,” she said.

Regardless of spring being your favorite season or not, spring is approaching. The first day of spring is March 20. According to the meteorological calendar, spring begins March 1. March is the first of the three spring months. The month can be associated with renewal and hope as the days get longer and brighter. Grab your favorite fresh fruit and enjoy the arrival of spring!