Onset of spring in Toronto and in NE USA

Onset of spring in Toronto and in NE USA
Abida Rahmani

After a long lingering winter, finally we are on the onset of spring weather in the southern part of Canada and the NE of USA. What does a spring means to the inhabitants of this zone is imaginable.
The harsh, cold, chilly weather is over now and they are out of their hibernation. So they enjoy spring and summers to the utmost outdoor activities. Walking, jogging, biking, skating, picnicking, swimming and all other outdoor sports and activities get start with a Zeal and bang.
It seems like a lively hustle bustle has started all over again.
It is now the gardening time. Tulips, daffodils, irises, and all the early bulbs and flowers are peeping out. Barren trees which almost seemed dead now are showing lots of signs of another life with fresh new leaves and buds. Lots of beautiful birds are chirping in and flying around. Squirrels and rabbits are hopping to enjoy the weather and find new food. People are busy in racking and cleaning their yards, Buying plants, soil, mulch and fertilizer. The BBQ grills are cleaned up and the aroma is spreading around.
Flights after flights  the Canadian geese are thronging back home.
So are the snow birds (term used for those who spend winters in warmer climate, especially in the warm parts of USA) are landing backing home.
All the big stores have set up big garden centers all of a sudden selling out lots of flowers, pots, garden decor, soil and other accessories. Every one is so crazy about plants and gardening.
Every where the spring clean up has been started, so is the repair work of the houses , buildings, roads and highways. Inside the closets and ward robes the winter clothing has gone behind. Every one is trying their best to be dressed up for spring. Even the cars are washed and a spring oil change is done.
During my first summer here, I was amazed to see people greeting each other “Happy Summers.” After spending lot many years in the sultry, humid and hot weather of Karachi, one could not imagine to greet at the start of summers.Summers of course so horrible in Karachi and rest of the country. But now, I know the importance of summers in Toronto when on temperatures of 30 c there is an extreme heat alert.
The winters start here by the end of October. At that time all the out door activities are closed. The amusement parks  and all out side recreation activities are closed down for winters, even the wash rooms in public parks are closed. It starts snowing in November which goes up to March or even early April.This year it snowed in third week of April. It is a beauty to watch the snow flakes coming down and every thing covered in a  white  drape around. The evergreen specially Christmas trees carrying the snow beautifully and elegantly on their branches. That is simply majestic.I am so mesmerized with this sight . But going out and driving around is miserable in that weather. It is so slushy around with the mix of salt and snow melting materials on paths and roads. As soon as the snow comes down folks are out to clear their drive ways and paths with shovels. If not done then it becomes hard and slippery and very risky for breaking one’s bones. When  it gets warm and the snow is melted down, again with the freezing temperatures that water is turned into ice. That is called the black ice, which is very slippery and deceiving. The killing factor is wind chill. Thanks to the weather channel updates which shows us the temperatures with wind chill factor all the time. After watching that, you may go out after bundling up.
There are so many facilities to combat cold. Keeping in warm all the indoors, so one should dress up in layers to take them off after getting inside. Folks are mostly involved in indoor activities and games. There are indoor basket ball, squash courts, swimming pools, Hockey ranks, ice skating, gyms and now even soccer courts in some areas.
Here are some famous sayings about how impatiently people wait for spring here.
“To anyone who has spent a winter in the north and knows the depths to which the snow can reach, knows the weeks when the mercury stays below zero, the first hint of spring is a major event. You must live in the north to understand it. 
Sigurd F. Olson
If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant.
Anne Bradstreet
When March goes on forever,
And April's twice as long, 
Who gives a damn if spring has come, 
As long as winter's gone.
R. L. Ruzicka
Spring weather is like a child s face, changing three times a day.
Chinese proverb
We need spring. We need it desperately and, usually, we need it before God is willing to give it to us.”
Peter Gzowski
With the onset of spring a lot many showers and thunder storms come too. April Showers, bring May flowers.This area in fact is so much blessed with plenty of waters. That is the reason that we can see all the great five lakes around. There are so many other lakes, streams and rivers all over around.
Because of the global warming there are lots of climatic changes and more are expected. But still the spring in here is like the winters in the plains of Pakistan. We still need a light jacket but its beautiful and great!