Some of us in North Texas complained a lot about our cold, yucky winter. Complained more than we should have, considering the Chicago White Sox groundskeepers had to wrangle with 30 inches of permafrost before opening day. We had, um, a little rain Friday.

Still, multiple ice storms and freeze after hard freeze not only lowered morale, but flat-out hurt our feelings. We just aren’t used to this sort of thing.

But all that is quickly being forgotten. I think it’s safe to say we have survived another winter. I’ve seen all the signs. In fact, I’ve documented them. Here then are the…

Top Seven Signs of Spring: (Hover over photos for hidden captions)

7. Iris plants pushing up and looking sturdy.

6. This handsome visitor, busily pollinating the peach blossoms. (This is a two-fer: the flowers and the butterfly.)

5. The Redbud tree blooming, overlapping peach-blossom time by a few weeks.

5a. Did you notice the star of the Redbud show, this bee?

4. The Strawberry plants are not only blooming but putting out some tiny green berries.

3. The Dragon’s Tongue has resurrected from that mess of sticks. As it does every year, about a week after we sadly shake our heads and pronounce that this last frost finally killed it off.

2. “Scooter” the driveway lizard never puts in an appearance until the weather turns mild.

And the Number 1 sign that Spring has arrived in North Texas:
1. The first bluebonnet has bloomed in our back yard.

As near as I can figure, the tiresomeness of winter—even in Texas—only gives us a greater appreciation for the glorious promise and renewal that are spring.

And speaking of spring and renewal, click over to see how both are playing out in the life of my dear friend Jen, over at Finding Heaven.

Thanks for reading,
Jan