It’s too easy to become wistful for the warmer weeks to come, especially while snow is still on the ground.
But a little daydream of the approaching spring and extended hours of sunlight is a remedy for the current cold. After all, there are so many aspects of life to look forward to on Cape Cod.
While all of New England waits on baited breath not to see their breath, Cape Codders have a more unique season to set their sights on.
Here are some early signs to watch out for as winter wanes and summer is no longer a distant memory.
Seasonal Restaurants Opening
From Seafood Sams in Yarmouth, Sandwich and Falmouth, to the Chart Room in Pocasset, and all of the clam shacks in between, a huge harbinger of the transition into spring is the opening of the Cape’s seasonal eateries. These joints are among the most missed.
“Peepers” Start Singing
The calming sound of peeper frogs in the evening is one of the first things we notice when warmer temperatures are upon us.
Early Flowers Begin to Bloom
It starts with the meager sprouts of White Snowdrops peaking up out of the thawing ground. Then come the crocuses, some brave lilies, daffodils and, finally, the tulips. Driving along Rt. 6A is a fantastic way to soak in the floral features of early spring.
Ice Cream Shops Scoop the Good Stuff Once Again
Though you may need to eat it with a sweater on, ice cream is scooped as soon as the sun shows up. The Par-Tee-Freeze in Hyannis is one of the first to open, followed by Centerville’s Four Seas and Somerset Creamery in Cataumet.
Dozens of Bird Species Flutter In
While Cape Cod has no shortage of winter birds, it’s the iconic Ospreys and ravishing Red-Winged Blackbirds that make spring so enigmatic and energetic.
Boats are Back on the Water
Driving past the miles of shorelines in spring will yield charming views of boats bobbing on moorings and tying into marina slips in preparation for a bustling season on the water.
Herring are Running
Humans aren’t the only runners out there in the spring. The small, silvery fish known as herring migrate thousands of miles to hop and flop through our waterways, a spectacle aided by and watched from little ladders called herring runs found in Brewster, Buzzards Bay, Falmouth and other towns.
Ball Players Hit the Diamond
The nationally-renowned Cape Cod Baseball League throws first pitches in June.
The Smell of Freshly-Cut Grass Wafts in from Next Door
One of the final signs of spring kicking in to full gear is when neighbors begin manicuring their yards in preparation for the drier months ahead. The intoxicating smell of freshly-cut lawns adds a perfect sensory dimension to an already invigorating time of year.
By CapeCod.com Staff
