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By LORIE ANN SIMPSON
Let’s talk weather. What kind of weather is your favorite? Mine is spring. Spring is not too hot and not too cold. The birds sing their particular song, and the flowers bloom. The whole world seems new and fresh. My husband’s favorite is winter. He likes the cold and snow. This year so far, the weather has been wild. Spring and almost summer-like weather in February, and then this past week, we have had freeze warnings, temperatures in the 20s, and even a few flurries where I live. When I was a little girl, my parents always talked about different winters. They would say, “Oh, we are going through Blackberry Winter.” So, I thought I would look up the different ones.

Locust and Redbud Winters are the first of the winters as they occur in mid-March to early April. Locust trees are fast-growing flowering plants. There are many different types, and each is unique. In my opinion, Redbud trees are the most beautiful. They have small showy blooms that form clusters all over the tree, even on the trunk. And I love their heart-shaped leaves.

Dogwood Winter happens when the Dogwoods are blooming. That timeframe is usually around the middle of April. Dogwoods are trees that bloom in different colors. My favorite is the Pink Dogwood. Farmers knew not to plant their crops until after the Dogwoods bloomed. Blackberry Winter usually happens from early to mid-May. Blackberry is a southern term. It describes a brief cold snap that helps the blackberry canes grow.

Last but not least, Whippoorwill Winter. This is the one I am waiting for. It occurs Mid to late May. This one is not as bad as the others as it is not as cold. Whippoorwill Winter is named after the bird that can be heard before dawn and late evening. When you hear those lovely birds, you know summer is close.

As an adult who travels to work, I prefer the mild winters. But as a kid, I prayed for snow and a lot of it. As I am sure, most kids do today. Whether you are a summer or winter person or somewhere in between, I hope you find something to like about each season. Each one is a perfect and beautiful creation of God.