Spring – Wineberry Woods

29Jan 2026 by catbird No Comments

What is the Pink Moon & a Coloring Page

Folklore, Full Moon, Pink Moon, Play, Scavenger Hunt, Spring

Many modern moon name lists suggest that the Pink Moon is named for the emergence of phlox subulata, or moss phlox, which is a native North American wildflower with pink flowers that blooms in April. However, I cannot track down a single actual source beyond the Farmer’s Almanac for this claim. (And the Farmer's Almanac does not expand on where this info came from which is unusual.) I do find that pink is everywhere this time of year—most welcome after a gray winter—so I've decided to roll with it. Moss phlox does, after all, bloom in April along with a host of other pink flowers like cherry blossom and spring beauty. That said, I wouldn't feel at all obligated to stick with this name because the phlox claim is weak at best. The Cherokee…

26Mar 2025 by catbird No Comments

“Clear and Bright”

Craft Project, Folklore, Foraging, Learning, Picture Book Buds, Spring

Picture Book Buds are a fun and easy way to incorporate literacy into nature study. Read a book (you can even read it outside!) and then enjoy the related activity and snack suggestions! Clear and Bright: A Ching Ming Festival Story Written by: Teresa Robeson Illustrated by: William Low Clear and Bright: A Ching Ming Festival Story is a lovely, lyrical story about a family celebrating the Ching Ming Festival. This is a spring festival right around the same time as spring equinox that has been on my radar for some time, but that I didn't previously know very much about. When I came across this picture book I jumped at the chance to learn more. If you have read much of my work than you may have noticed that…

20Mar 2025 by catbird 1 Comment

“When We Gather (Ostadahlisiha): A Cherokee Tribal Feast”

Folklore, Foraging, Hike Ideas, Learning, Picture Book Hikes, Spring, Spring Equinox

Picture Book Hikes are a fun and easy way to bring learning outside. Read a book (you can even read it outside!) and then enjoy the related hike, activity and snack suggestions! When We Gather (Ostadahlisiha): A Cherokee Tribal Feast Written by: Andrea L. Rogers, Illustrated by: Madelyn Goodnight When We Gather (Ostadahlisiha): A Cherokee Tribal Feast is about a familiy foraging in the early spring for wild onions and then joining a feast at their local community center. I was excited to come across it because I am always looking for seasonal celebrations from different cultures and this is one I had not come across before. I also love wild onions in the spring, they are one of the first (if not the very first) edible plants to start growing, months…

12Mar 2025 by catbird No Comments

What is Spring Equinox?

Folklore, Learning, Spring, Spring Equinox

The Spring or Vernal Equinox is the midpoint between the Summer and Winter Solstices. Day and night are of equal length in nearly all parts of the world. The word equinox comes from the Latin words for “equal night”—aequus (equal) and nox (night). On the Spring Equinox the Earth’s tilt is at zero relative to the sun, meaning it is not tilting towards or away from the light, it is in balance. The Equinox is the astronomical first day of spring, traditionally starting the spring season. Sunlight increases, dawn is earlier, sunset is later and the earth begins again. This time of year has long been associated with spring and rebirth in cultures across the world. It was an important marker in the agricultural cycle, time to begin planting and…

21Mar 2024 by catbird No Comments

“Wake Up, Woods”

Foraging, Hike Ideas, Learning, Picture Book Hikes, Spring

Picture Book Hikes are a fun and easy way to bring learning outside. Read a book (you can even read it outside!) and then enjoy the related hike, activity and snack suggestions! Wake Up, Woods Written by: Michael Homoya & Shane Gibson, illustrated by:Gillian Harris This book is absolutely packed with information about spring ephemerals-- delicate North American native flowers that grow in the forest the early spring before the tree canopy leafs out. This is less of a story book and more of a nonfiction information book, its almost a feild guide but with beautiful illustrations. If you are looking for more of a story, or working with younger friends, try the Possum and the Peeper by Anne Hunter. It doesn't specifically mention spring ephemerals, but depicts them in the illustrations. The…

18Mar 2024 by catbird No Comments

Spring Equinox Tea Party

Play, Recipes, Spring, Spring Equinox

Spring always feels like a tea party time of year to me. I'm not sure why, I guess maybe it's a delicate sort of season? I always seem to find myself throwing a tea party this time of year, regardless. (You can find a flower watching tea party in my Spring Equinox book.) It's also one of the best times to eat outside, it's just starting to get warm and sunny afternoons feel like a celebration already. What is interesting to me about this time of year is that none of the typical "spring" foods we associate with this time are actually ripe yet, at least not where I live. The asparagus have not poked up yet, no strawberries, and rhubarb is just starting to unfurl. So how do we…

14Mar 2024 by catbird No Comments

Worm Moon Seed Bombs

Craft Project, Full Moon, Garden, Play, Spring, Worm Moon

If you know me, then you know I have something of a seed bomb obsession, I am always thinking of ideas for seed bomb projects! I think it's because they combine two of my favorite things- sculpting and gardening. I knew I wanted to use worm castings in this one for the worm moon, and I decided to shape it like a moon too! The worm castings will add extra nutrients and give your seeds a great start in lofe. Moonflowers were then the obvious seed to tuck inside, or any moon garden sort of flowers. You can buy worm castings in the fertilizer section of garden stores, or you can scoop them off the ground. Be sure to tell kids that they are worm poop- they love that stuff!…

23Jul 2023 by catbird No Comments

Flower Moon Dried Flower Art

Craft Project, Flower Moon, Nature Art, Nature Collection, Spring

The May full moon is most often called the Flower Moon. “Flower Moon” is attributed to the Algonquin and Comanche peoples. The Anishnaabeg call May’s moon the Blossom Moon, and the Kalapuya are even more specific: Camas Blooming Moon. The Shoshone call this the Budding Moon. A common proverb in English-speaking countries asserts that “April showers bring May flowers!” It’s in May that many spring flowers start to appear, whether they are weeds in a lawn, cultivated flowers in a garden, or fleeting “spring ephemerals” in the woods. In most places May is a point in the spectrum of spring, and many of the full-moon names reflect that. Both the Choctaw and Creek tribes call this the Mulberry Moon, and the Arapaho call it When the Ponies Shed Their Shaggy…

23Jul 2023 by catbird No Comments

Pink Moon Petal Hunt

Craft Project, Full Moon, Nature Art, Nature Collection, Pink Moon, Play, Spring

A great way to celebrate the Pink Moon is to go on a "pink" scavenger hunt and see how many bits of pink you can find creeping out after the winter. You may find some pink flowers, but pink is also in other unexpected places like leaves, sticks, and even insects! How many types of pink things can you find? Pink Moon Scavenger Hunt There are no checklists for this hunt, just look for things that are pink! They can be natural things like petals and leaves or anything else that's pink and catches your eye. You can take photos to keep track or physically collect some items. (Take care with natural items, plants are just starting over for the year so it's best to stick with things that have…

Category: Spring