7 REASONS WHY I LOVE SPRINGTIME IN ONTARIO, CANADA
There are many ways one can enjoy Spring in Ontario, Canada. And I have seven on my list that I keep annually. But each year, with great amazement, it always brings new and unique experiences. Not all Spring times are the same. This year 2023 I am sure it would be different than Spring 2022. And I am looking forward to the surprises this springtime has to offer.
But before I share with you those 7 reasons why I love Spring, let me give you a little background why Spring is my favorite season. I have two personal theories why I feel this way. And they come in the form of questions.
First: Is it because of age?
As I grow older, I am discovering in myself more and more that I am very much a part of nature after all. Can this be the reason why old people who have grown close connection with nature are not afraid to die? Because even after death we never actually left this world? At least our physical body? Or ashes?
“…for all is vanity. All go to one place. All are from the dust, and to dust all return.” Ecclesiastes 3:19-20
I am now at the tail end of the so-called midlife. Although, of course, I am still way off from being old. Yet I have been noticing that I have become interested more and more in the outdoors. I seem to become extra sensitive to whatever lessons I can decipher from Mother Nature. Or perhaps those lessons have been there all along, but I was just too pre-occupied with other worldly affairs to notice them. Well, I guess I’ll just have to continue to observe if this theory holds some truth.
Second: Is it because I do not actually hate the other seasons?
There are four seasons in Ontario. By the way, when talking of seasons in Canada, we must do it by province because the country is vastly huge. Even in the province of Ontario alone not all parts of it are experiencing the same season in the same way. It is because it is a very large area by itself.
Spring is from March 20 to June 20. From June 21 to September 21 is Summer. Fall or Autumn starts on September 22 and lasts until December 20. And from December 21 to March 19, is the season of snow, ice, freezing rain, and very bitter cold. In other words, the harsh Winter.
So, what’s this second theory about?
One thing I have come to realize is that in life, we fall in love with one thing not because we hate the other.
For example, Springtime in Ontario is the season that I love the most. That it follows winter – which is always bitterly cold – makes the coming of Spring so heavenly. But I must confess that I love springtime much more because I have been trying to fall in love with Canada’s winter.
Sounds confusing? Read along and I will show you why.
I am originally from a tropical country. It means that sun and humidity are part of life over there. This was the reason I had no problem when I settled in California for almost a decade. That western state can be hot as hell during summer. But I could tolerate it because I was used to that kind of sweltering heat.
For those who are not familiar with the weird weather in California, winter can be brutal too. Even if it does not snow in most parts of the state. I still remember when I first arrived in the Bay Area, and its memory is still so easy to feel just by touching my ear right now. You see, it was the middle of January and the peak of winter. It was made worse because I landed in San Francisco airport at 10:00 at night. The moment I exited the Arrival area a bitter breeze blasted my face, and instantly I could feel as if my ears were freezing. Stories and movies I saw crossed my mind: never touch your frozen ears as they may fall off easily.
However, I am still thankful for my California experience. Unknown to me, it prepared me for the next phase of my life – to live in Ontario, Canada. Here the period of cold winter is longer and colder.
The first thing I needed to do was to fall in love with Winter.
This may sound weird. But let me give you a little background. During my first winter in Canada, I was beginning to entertain the thoughts of blaming myself for my decision to move north. It was one of the few times that temperature in Ontario reached almost -40C! That whole winter I was filled with regrets. I felt I had no other choice. It was only because of my awareness of the greater reason why I was in Canada in the first place that I decided to stay put. But I had made my conclusion: I hate this kind of cold.
Then my first Spring came. The world suddenly became so wonderful, and it was as if everything came to life and soon there was an explosion of sounds and colors. Winter was quickly forgotten. It’s like that anecdote of a mother being in pain while in labor, as soon as she sees the baby and holds it in her arm all the memories of pain suddenly vanish.
It was during my first memorable Spring in Ontario that I made the realization. For me to live a happy life in my new country I need to love everything in it. Or at least to like the things that made the place unique. That’s where I made a promise to myself: I must learn how to fall in love with Winter.
So, trying to like all the three seasons makes Spring more beautiful.
Now let me share with you the 7 reasons why I love Spring in Ontario. Or to put it another way, the 7 ways to enjoy this season.
1. Birdwatching
The reason I choose this as the number one is because it is both a beautiful experience and a very worrisome reminder.
I love listening to the sweet cacophony of music and tweets, as I try to match a unique sound to a particular species. Spring is the busiest time for birds, mating, nesting. And I am sure the experts can easily distinguish which activity a species is engaged in by the kind of sound it makes. There are at least 25 species of bird native to Ontario.
My favorites
My favorites are the Blue Jays, Northern Cardinal, Hairy and Downy Woodpeckers, and Yellow Warbler. In addition to these favorites, the common ones that frequent our backyard are the American Robin, Black-capped Chickadee, Mourning Dove, Red-breasted Nuthatch, American Goldfinch, and American Crow. It always makes me smile observing each of their idiosyncrasies and quirks.
Sometimes they display some behavior that convinces me birds are smart. For example, whenever our backyard feeder gets empty some of them make a kind of sound that is almost human. You easily get the message because while making that particular sound they linger near the feeder and look in my direction.
However, in recent years my interest in birdwatching has been taking a more serious turn. In Ontario, birds have become a harbinger of something that each person must pay attention to. Scientists in both the US and Canada are increasingly concerned that more and more species will see a significant decline in their numbers; a few will probably go instinct sooner than later. For years this phenomenon was mainly caused by loss of habitat, pesticides and other chemicals, and glass windows in high rise buildings.
Warnings!
This year experts are all the more raising the alarm bells. Climate change is sowing confusion to many bird species. For example, spring weather comes earlier than usual but the length of daylight is shorter. Some species that migrated south during winter can sense the coming of spring and they go back north. Only to find that there’s not much food available yet. The greening of trees is delayed, insects and worms are not yet abundant.
Their nesting has been affected too. Winter is supposed to end around March 19, but in recent years snowfall has become so unpredictable that it appears even in early May.
We better observe the birds
We humans, because of difference in body mass, do not feel the effects of climate change as immediate as the fragile birds. But we better observe these beautiful tiny creatures because they serve as “canary in the mine”, so to speak. Just imagine, for example, if our farms and gardens are easily ravaged by insects and bugs and the birds cannot consume them fast enough because it is past their nesting period. No hatchlings to feed, no need to gather that much food.
My little contribution
So, to make my own little contribution, this year I have signed up with eBird. This is a global birdwatching community that helps experts and scientists monitor birds around the world. The concept is simple, everyone who loves to watch birds can sign up. I can open its app on my phone, and as I do my own birdwatching – be it in our backyard or in the woods – I can tap the species of birds that I see in real time.
But most importantly, watching these beautiful little creatures – with their fascinating colors, the music they create, their individuality and uniqueness – reminds me of the beauty of the Creator.
2. Joyriding in the countryside
Ontario is 2.7 larger than California in terms of land area. It has a total area of 415,598 sq. mi. as compared to California’s 163,696 sq. mi. It means a difference of 251,902 sq. mi. Ontario is a vast land to explore.
As we all know, immigration has been changing the landscape and demographics of the whole of Canada. And if one does not pay attention, the “old Canada” will have evolved quickly. That is why during the Spring I love to drive around the countryside. It is where people are doing their best to preserve the way of life that has been there for centuries. And the time to witness this is during their Spring festivals and community Fairs.
We learn a lot by observing other people’s lives. And we get to understand why we are today by looking back to how things were in the past. We cannot love something if we do not know much about it. Canada is a very beautiful country. We just have to explore its beauty. And that is what joyriding is for me. Spring is the best time to do it.
3. Stargazing
Some say that Ontario has one of the darkest skies. And stargazing is becoming so popular nowadays. To accommodate this new trend, more and more Dark Sky Preserves are being added for the past decade. I just learned that Ontario is now “home to eight of the world’s 80 official dark sky-reserves”.
A special mention here is the Manitoulin Island dark sky preserve, where one can get lucky to witness the Aurora Borealis phenomenon. The reason why this is the best place for stargazing is because it is believed it is among the few locations in Ontario that has “virtually zero light pollution.” And it is open from May to September. For sure, this place is on the top of our list to visit this year.
Meanwhile, I can do stargazing without leaving our place. I can do it right in our backyard deck. Spring is a better time to do it; less bugs and insects to bother you like in summer.
But there is more than just being bedazzled by the beauty of the night sky. There is something spiritual in stargazing. Looking at the vast space filled with twinkling lights makes me humble. It reminds me of how tiny I am in the grand scheme of things.
Ironically, stargazing gives me that feeling of being “grounded”, even though I am looking up. When I do not give a pause to my busy life here on earth, I easily get overwhelmed. It is easy to forget that most of my concerns and pre-occupations are not what life is all about. I get reminded that there is a much bigger world out there, if I just look up.
4. Gardening
This is another activity that I love during springtime. It is the time to prepare the soil to produce a miracle of life. But there is more to gardening than planting, cultivating, and harvesting. It can be a deep spiritual activity.
The awareness that my own physical body is no different from the soft soil I hold in my hands, gives me that feeling of being one with my garden. Some elements and minerals found in the ground that make it possible for the plants to grow are also found in every cell of my human body. Gardening reminds me of who I am.
Tending my garden requires me to pay attention, to watch out for anything that harms the health of plants and vegetables. It takes a lot of patience and self-control since I do not actually dictate their growth.
Oh, yes, I talk to my plants. To those who do not believe that plants have “sense” may laugh at this. Just like when somebody decades ago suggested that beef ranchers constantly play classical music to their cows. But look where we are now. The best steak we enjoy today is the product of that crazy idea. There’s more: some will attest those who regularly talk to their orchids produce the most beautiful flowers that you find in the shops.
5. Fishing
Ah, my favorite past time. I have been fascinated by this outdoor activity, since I was a child. There is something in it that I cannot explain. Until today this fascination has never faded.
Spring is the start of fishing in most parts of Ontario.
I have long found out that there is a lot going on when I am out fishing. Consider this: When I go out, I have no idea if the fish are present in that one spot. And if they are, I am not sure if they are biting. If they are, what kind of lure or bait they are chasing? And there’s more: I must determine the water temperature, the depth where they are congregating, etc.
But it is in the waiting where the biggest things occur. Being alone and in silence, my mind becomes sharp and focused. This is the reason why when I am about to make important decisions in life, I go out fishing.
Lastly, I always eat my catch. I do not believe in that catch-and-release stuff. It does not feel right if I hurt any creature just for entertainment. I do not hold the gasping and living being and take a selfie, and in front of the camera I declare, “What a beauty. I love this beauty.” And with great drama I gently put it back in the water and expect my viewers to call me a nature lover.
Taking a life, no matter how tiny, is a very serious thing I always think about. Especially if it is done in the name of enjoyment. Preparing and cooking my catch is part of the ritual in hobby fishing. It is about one creature giving up its life to become part of my nourishment, even for just a day.
6. Hiking
When I am out there hiking, I discover a lot around me, and within me. I get to listen to my breathing, paying closer attention to make sure my cardio-respiratory organs are still in tip-top shape. It gives me the chance to watch out for any creaking sounds in my body joints.
And especially deep in the woods, I get to notice things and creatures that I do not have the chance to encounter in normal daily activity. For example, I continue to discover mushrooms in all sorts of forms and colors; crawling creatures and critters that I do not even know exist.
Hiking is one outdoor activity that benefits my health, mind, and body. It also exercises my senses – sights and sounds and touch – that limits my trip to my specialists for the tests. And the best time to do it is in Spring!
7. Camping
I understand this one past time is not meant for everyone. If you are not ready to undergo some discomfort for just a few days, do not do it. It is just a waste of time.
But I love the experience. The thrill and exhilaration of being deep with nature is always worth the discomfort. In camping I get to experience how our ancestors lived their lives before the advent of life’s comfort.
At night in total darkness around, sharing stories with friends around the glow of the fire pit gives me that feeling of being transported into the world of the ancient wilderness.
A little terror is welcome
And inside my tent I entertain myself with all kinds of sounds in the forest. I can pretend that I am surrounded by all kinds of dangers lurking in the dark and in the woods, although I am aware that public parks in Ontario are as safe as being in my own place. But sometimes it gets a little real; a few times I forgot to properly secure our outdoor kitchen wares, a huge group (or “gaze”) of raccoons made a ruckus around our tent. And at least in two instances we saw some grizzlies wandering inside the campsite.
Allowing yourself to feel vulnerable and without access to some of the basics in modern life for a few days, you come back to your “real world” refreshed and more grateful.
Another important thing, with the reasonable fees that I pay, I am making my own contribution to make sure the province of Ontario can continue to sustain and maintain the beauty of its outdoors.
And have you noticed something else so far? When I go Camping, all 6 happen at the same time: Birdwatching, Joyriding, Stargazing, Fishing, Hiking.
It’s like the movie, Everything Everywhere All at Once!
So, Ontarians, go out there. Enjoy the beauty of Spring!
