Even the sidewalks are starting to bloom in the Gardnerville Ranchos.
Although Daylight Saving Time required that we “spring forward” over the weekend, the shift in seasons doesn’t officially take place until the vernal equinox on Sunday. Vernal is Latin for “pertaining to spring,” while equinox means “equal night.”
During the spring equinox, the tilt of Earth’s axis is in a certain position in relationship to the sun, and the sun’s light shines directly on the equator. This results in day and night being approximately equal length in both the northern and southern hemispheres.
For those of us in the northern hemisphere, daylight hours will continue to increase as we make our way toward the summer solstice on June 21. This will be the day the northern hemisphere has the most amount of sunlight during all of 2022. Those in the southern hemisphere will experience decreasing daylight as they move into their autumn season.
For anyone interested in learning more, visit The Franklin Institute’s web page, fi.edu/blog/what-is-vernal-equinox, and the NASA web page, blogs.nasa.gov/blog/2021/03/19/march-equinox-brings-2-seasons-spring-autumn/, for engaging and informative posts about the vernal equinox.
Also this week, try to catch a glimpse of this winter season’s last full moon. The moon reaches peak fullness just after midnight on Friday morning, and should appear large and brilliant tonight through Saturday.
A sign of brighter days ahead
My husband and I took our dog for a walk last Friday evening after sundown, just as the sky started its magical watercolor morphing across the horizon. Our attention was mostly upward as we watched the colors shift and change, but I happened to glance down at one point and noticed a flash of yellow on the ground.
Tucked in a crack between the road and the sidewalk was a tiny cluster of violas, their cheerful hue a bright burst of sunshine against the muted tones of pavement. Something about the fortitude of those little flowers blooming forth in spite of less-than-ideal temperatures and conditions felt fresh and hopeful, a perfect metaphor for the approaching spring.
Elks host country dance night
The Tahoe-Douglas Elks host country dance night at the Lodge, 1227 Kimmerling Road in the Gardnerville Ranchos, on Saturday, March 19 at 7 p.m.
The event features DJ Dustin Valcalda, dance lessons the first hour, and is open to anyone age 21 and older. Donation is $5 with proceeds benefitting Elks charities.
This is the second country dance night at the Lodge; the first event held recently was such a success that they’re hosting another due to popular demand. Folks are invited to “… dust off your cowboy hat and put on them boots … come out and join in on the fun!”
Amy Roby can be reached at ranchosroundup@hotmail.com.
