One of my favorite aspects of living in Springfield, Missouri, is the aerial of spring.
The local winters are especially long.
The outdoor temperature drops into the forties as early as October. It’s possible to run the furnace and potentially shovel snow in April. After so many months bundling up in sweaters and keeping the house sealed tight, I look forward to warmer weather. I keep watch for robins, redwing blackbirds and the first hints of green poking up out of the ground. While the spring season can be very rainy and chilly, it’s a beautiful time of year in Springfield. The local area offers a gorgeous display of blooming redbud trees and dogwoods. As soon as the weather allows, I make a trip to the Springfield Botanical Gardens. I love wandering though the Mizumoto Japanese Stroll garden. It covers more than seven acres and features a moon bridge, meditation garden, large koi lake and a tea house. The traditional Japanese garden landscaping is just beautiful. Another rewarding spring-time attraction is the Nathanael Greene/Close Memorial Park. The gardens are maintained by volunteers and cater to specific themes. There is an iris garden that showcases the tall, delicately scented flowers in shades of yellow, purple, pink and even blue. There is a peace garden, herb garden, English garden and so many more. The park is also home to the Roston Native Butterfly House. Because I work on campus at Evangel University, I am aware of the thousands of tulips that bloom every spring. The colorful blossoms create a stunning display.