Spring's official start accompanied by flowers, bees, birds and butterflies

Mar. 17—As the gentle green signs of spring steadily creep from the south to Northeast Ohio, the official astronomical start to the season begins officially at 5:24 p.m. on March 20.

Despite sometimes wintery weather in the north, the vernal equinox we call the spring solstice begins at the same time everywhere in the northern hemisphere. South of the equator it marks the first day of autumn.

After the spring solstice, most places will experience an increasing number of daylight hours each day until the summer solstice in June, when the longest day and shortest night of the year occurs. With the March 12 arrival of daylight saving time, sunset now is about 7:30 p.m., giving longer twilight hours for outdoor activities.

The increasing daylight triggers the internal clocks of robins and other migratory birds, causing them to begin their annual trip north in search of protein, usually earthworms emerging from the warming soil. The courtship song of the male robin can be heard as their breeding season begins. Hummingbirds, which have already begun to appear in the Washington, D.C. area, aren't due here until May. Neotropical birds will soon begin their northward migration, also peaking in May.

Bird walks hosted by many organizations abound in April and May.

Lovers of spring and its blooming wildflowers can find snowdrops and witch hazel in bloom now at Holden Arboretum's Myrtle S. Holden Wildflower Garden where trilliums, wild geranium, trout lilies, yellow iris, Dutchmen's breeches, marsh marigolds and Virginia bluebells will soon be found as spring progresses,

Flowers now in bloom include the Hellebore, also known as the Lenten Rose, which can be found in some backyard gardens and at both the Holden Arboretum and Cleveland Botanical Garden.

Hellebore varieties range from white to pink, red to purple. A lovely double blossomed purple variety is found west of Blueberry Pond at Holden Arboretum. They can also be seen at the Corning Visitor Center Courtyard Garden and the Helen S. Layer Rhododendron Garden, which reaches its full bloom in May.

Those visiting the Cleveland Botanical Garden in University Circle will find Hellebores along the edges of the Hershey Children's Garden and by the Terrace in the Western Reserve Herb Society's Garden.

The arboretum's lilacs, with many fragrant white and purple varieties, bloom in April.

Daffodil Hill is a spring highlight of a visit to Lakeview Cemetery on the boundary of Cleveland Heights and Cleveland's University Circle neighborhood. The cemetery, one of the region's first garden cemeteries, was founded in 1870 on 275 acres between Mayfield Road and Euclid Avenue. Daffodil Hill was begun in the 1940s when Dr. William Weir donated 140 varieties of daffodils to Lakeview.

Now more than 100,000 daffodils blanket the hillside, reaching their peak bloom later in March and attracting many visitors to gaze at and photograph them.

Once the snow melts and the icy edges are gone from ponds and streams, spring becomes a season to get out and about in Northeast Ohio. Long walks and deep breaths of the gentle spring air banish the wearies of winter.

Here are some events to catch in between searches for wildflowers and other signs of spring.

The Holden Arboretum, at 9550 Sperry Road in Kirtland, spans 3,600 acres in Lake and Geauga counties. It's open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $20 for adults but free to members, who also get free admission to the Cleveland Botanical Garden in Cleveland's University Circle.

Its 12-story tall Kalberer Emergent Tower and 500-foot long Murch Canopy Walk open April 1 for breathtaking views of the landscapes as spring unfolds.

Earth Day on April 22 is observed with a 10 a.m. seed starting workshop aimed at families. A Beginners Guide to Planting Trees is at 1 p.m. April 27. Registration, which is required, can be made at holdenfg.org

Free admission day is April 28 in observance of Arbor Day.

Guided tours of the Rhododendron Garden are May 24 and 45-minute tram tours of the Arboretum also begin in May.

The Cleveland Botanical Garden, 11030 East Blvd. in Clevealnd's University Circle neighborhood will have free admission for Arbor Day, April 28.

This week it hosts a House Plant Exhibit on March 18 with a wide array of stunningly beautiful houseplants filling indoor spaces. Gain tips for thriving houseplants there. The Midwest Cactus and Succulent Society has a sale and show from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. March 25 and noon to 5 p.m. March 26.

Butterflies will be released starting April 1 in the Botanical Garden's Costa Rica cloud forest biome where more than 600 of them are emerging. Visitors can take part in the release at 2 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays.

The Hershey Children's Garden also reopens for the season on April 1 giving children a new appreciation for the environment as they become immersed in hands-on activities like observing honeybees in their hive, searching for fish, frogs and turtles in the pond, while exploring and playing in nature's playground.

A spring egg hunt takes place in the Children's Garden from 9 a.m. to noon on April 8 with eggs being hidden the entire morning. Participating children each receive a natural seed bomb egg to teach them about dispersal of seeds by running, jumping, twisting and playing. Each child receives a prize at a candy station.

Get details at holdenfg.org