Spring Archives

6 Employee Activities for Spring to Help Re-energize the Workforce

Life at work can get monotonous. Your employees can stand to benefit from a change in their daily routine, especially in the spring. Scheduling employee engagement activities to help coworkers embrace the change in seasons can help boost morale and build camaraderie in the process.

If you want to set aside some time for group bonding but aren’t sure where to start, let these six ideas for employee engagement activities serve as inspiration.

1. Host group yoga sessions

Physical activity is a positive way to break up the work day, and the benefits multiply when you do it with others. Consider hosting group yoga sessions for the office either virtually, in a studio, or in a nearby park.

employee engagement activities with co-workers doing yoga

Sherry Morgan, founder and CEO of Petsolino in Beckley, West Virginia, hosts yoga classes for her employees every two weeks in the spring. “We hire a yoga instructor that could lead a one-hour yoga class for all of us,” she explains. “Since we work remotely, we used to hold the yoga classes via Zoom. This year, however, we plan to do it in a hybrid setting by renting a studio where willing employees can go visit and take the class in person.”

Make the most of the occasion by giving every participant a personalized yoga mat. Then, keep the wellness vibe going after class by ensuring everyone has access to healthy snacks, such as fresh fruit.

2. Take a hike

Spring is a time of change, and nowhere is a better place to appreciate this than the great outdoors. Organize a group hiking session in a nearby nature preserve to help your employees bond while breathing that fresh spring air. You can keep things casual or establish a topic for group discussion; you may find that everyone’s creativity gets supercharged as the endorphins start flowing.

At the end of the excursion, treat the team to a picnic lunch with some spring-themed desserts to top it off.

3. Organize a wine tasting

If your team would rather get together in a less strenuous way, organize a company-wide wine tasting. The event can take place at a local winery, or, if you prefer, you can ship everyone their bottles in a thank you box to enjoy at home during a Zoom session. Wine, cheese, and chocolate always go together, so make sure you have plenty of each on hand. Make sure to also supply non-alcoholic beverages for those who prefer not to drink.

employee engagement activities with co-workers at a wine tasting

If your team is up for it, you can upgrade the experience to a “paint and sip” party. Let everyone break out their paintbrushes and tap into their hidden artistic talents. “Paint and sip events are a great way for teams to unwind and reconnect after a long day, or week, of work,” says Dana Case, director of operations at MyCorporation.com, a leading provider of business formation services. “It also allows everyone to relax and share their inner creativity.”

4. Stage a photography competition

The changing seasons are a perfect time to hold a spring photography competition. This can work as either a team or solo activity. Give everyone up to a month to take and submit their favorite photos of spring scenes, and then develop them to display around the office.

On a given day, have everyone vote for their favorites, and then present awards for different categories (best animal shot, best landscape, etc.). The winners can receive gift certificates to local businesses or a congratulatory gift of flowers or food.

5. Volunteer at a local charity

There’s no better way to show how far you’ve come as a company than dedicating a day to giving back. “Springtime is all about new beginnings, and allowing your coworkers to help people in their community is enough to boost anyone’s morale,” says Ouriel Lemmel, CEO and founder of WinIt, an app that helps users challenge parking and traffic tickets.

“It’s even more meaningful if this charity work is somehow related to their jobs,” Lemmel continues. “One great example of this would be a financial institution that encourages their employees to take one day out of the month to teach money-saving skills to the people in their community and help them increase their financial literacy.”

employee engagement activities with co-workers volunteering

Keep the good deeds going by celebrating your hard work with office snacks that support Smile Farms, a nonprofit organization that provides developmentally disabled adults with meaningful work opportunities at farms, urban gardens, greenhouses, and farm stands.

6. Plant new roots

Get everyone outdoors and working on a project you all will benefit from by starting an office garden. Consider setting up some raised beds outdoors, or, if space is a concern, creating mini container gardens along windowsills. You can keep things organized post-planting with custom plant markers for each variety.

“Gardening is a great way to spend a day talking and relaxing together, choosing which flowers to grow, and going through the planting process,” shares Megan Jones, a community outreach manager for NutraSweet Natural, a zero-calorie natural sweetener.

“Our collaborative gardening day is dedicated to planting flowers in a small garden that the team can then enjoy during their break times.” Jones continues. “It’s a lot of fun because the results are seen throughout the year. The garden becomes a constant reminder of what teamwork can achieve and about how everyone in the business has an impact.”

Picture of banner ad for spring bulb event

5 Spring Equinox Activities to Celebrate the Changing Seasons

“Nurturing Relationships” shares advice on how to stay connected with others and spend quality time with those closest to you. These spring equinox activities will revitalize your spirit and get the whole family excited for the nicer weather ahead.

Winter, and all that goes with it, can feel like a never-ending slog. Fortunately, we are beginning to emerge from the cold season and warmer days are here. Spring is coming!

This year, the spring equinox, also known as the vernal equinox, is Sunday, March 19. On that day, the season in the Northern Hemisphere will switch from winter to spring (and from summer to fall in the Southern Hemisphere), and the days officially become longer than the nights, whereas the opposite is true south of the equator.

It also can serve as a day of reflection and anticipation for what’s ahead — namely, warmer weather and, ultimately, summer.

“Celebrating the vernal equinox is a way to connect with nature,” explains Barbi Gardiner, a gardener and forager, and founder of The Outdoor Apothecary. “It is a way to be mindful of earth’s magic and to recognize that this day is a day of perfect balance, when the sun can be seen directly above the earth’s equator and when light and dark are completely equal. It signals a period of new beginnings, cleansing, rebirth, and renewal.”

If you’re looking for creative ways to celebrate this changing of the seasons, let these ideas serve as inspiration.

1. Spend time in nature

Longer days and warmer weather mean it’s time to get outside. “Research shows that nature can improve your health and mental wellness, so there’s no downside to getting outside to enjoy the sunshine!” Gardiner says.

spring equinox activities: family on a picnic

Take a hike as a family or participate in a more mindful activity, advises Genesis Sampson, blogger at In Its Season. “One of my favorite mindfulness activities to do to celebrate the equinox is to go on a long, slow walk to experience my surroundings on a more physical level, actively engaging all my senses,” Sampson says. “Most importantly, this is the first walk of the season where I remove my gloves and touch everything I see. The feeling of a tree under your bare hands is such an amazing feeling after months of wearing gloves!”

Be intentional about taking in all that’s changing with the season, and you’ll come away feeling more in touch with the outside world.

2. Enjoy a spring family feast

Good food puts everyone in a celebratory mood, as does the start of spring. A box of festive treats will have everyone feeling the positive vibes.

Research shows that nature can improve your health and mental wellness, so there’s no downside to getting outside to enjoy the sunshine!

Barbi Gardener

Founder, The Outdoor Apothecary

You can also channel the spirit of the changing season by sticking with locally grown, seasonal ingredients. Consider shopping at a nearby farmers market to gather some homemade or homegrown delicacies, such as home-baked bread, tender spring greens and shoots, and rhubarb or strawberry desserts. If it’s warm enough, take the meal outdoors and enjoy your first family picnic of the year.

Eggs are also a classic choice for spring-themed meals. They traditionally symbolize fertility, life, and rebirth — all things we celebrate with the coming of spring. (There’s also that bit about the vernal equinox being the only day of the year when you can balance an egg on its end. Not true!) Preparing an egg-based brunch for the whole family or spending time together dyeing eggs (they aren’t just for Easter!) are great ways to make the most of the season.

3. Get planting

There’s no better sign of the start of spring than new plant growth. If the weather allows, you can celebrate the equinox by enjoying spring bulbs that are starting to sprout outdoors, such as tulips, daisies, and irises.

spring equinox activities: woman planting

This is also the time to get seeds in the ground. Shannon Bernadin, botanist and owner of The African Garden, suggests turning planting into a communal experience. “For me, spring is all about renewal and rebirth, bringing life back to barren gardens. My favorite way to do this is to invite my friends and family over for a planting party,” Bernadin says. “Everybody gets to plant one flower or one seed, and when the garden begins to bloom, I have fond memories of a day I got to spend with all the people that I love.”

Consider planting flower seeds so you can enjoy blooms throughout the summer. Use the spring equinox as the starting date for a small kitchen herb garden or beautiful Seeds of Life tree.

4. Make spring-themed decorations

If Old Man Winter still has a hold on the weather, you can always celebrate the changing of the seasons in your home with spring-themed decorations.

This might include creating handmade wreaths to display around the house and flower crowns for kids and dolls alike. Other spring crafts ideas include making your own planter cover and DIY moss art to hang around the home. You can also enhance the charm of your homemade décor with cute bunny– or chick-shaped planters filled with spring flowers.

5. Take a ‘bath’

Doing things together as a family is great, but it’s also important to have some alone time. Spring is a chance for a fresh start, and that can mean giving yourself a physical and spiritual reset.

spring activities: woman taking a relaxing bath

As Demesha Page, marketing director for Art for Your Cause, explains, “I like to boost my energetic vibrations by taking a ‘spiritual bath,’ to cleanse my mind and spirit. This helps boost psychic energy in order to set and manifest the intentions that I create for the upcoming season.”

This can mean smudging your home with sage or palo santo wood to remove negative energy, lighting calming candles, or taking a rejuvenating bubble bath with aromatherapy products designed to keep you centered and relaxed. Page says, “I use bath time to soak, float, meditate, and set my intentions for whatever I want to manifest and see in my future.”

70 Inspiring Spring Quotes to Help Lift Your Spirits

Spring is a time to get excited for the future, hopeful for good times to come. As the days become longer and the temperatures inch up, we’re ready to abandon sweater weather for shorts and sandal season.

Need a little inspiration to help you make the most of this magical time of year? Whether you’re thinking of freshening up your home or office with some spring cleaning or looking forward to spending the spring holidays with family, this collection of inspiring spring quotes is sure to get you in the spirit of the season.

Quotes about spring

“Spring work is going on with joyful enthusiasm.” – John Muir
“It’s spring again. I can hear the birds sing again. See the flowers start to bud. See young people fall in love.” – Lou Rawls, “Spring Again”
“Spring adds new life and new beauty to all that is.” – Jessica Harrelson
“Springtime is the land awakening. The March winds are the morning yawn.” – Lewis Grizzard
“Spring is nature’s way of saying ‘Let’s party!’” – Robin Williams
“The deep roots never doubt spring will come.” – Marty Rubin
“April hath put a spirit of youth in everything.” – William Shakespeare
“Spring is when life’s alive in everything.” – Christina Rossetti
“Is the spring coming?’ he said. ‘What is it like?’ … ‘It is the sun shining on the rain and the rain falling on the sunshine…’ – Frances Hodgson Burnett, “The Secret Garden”
“In springtime, love is carried on the breeze. Watch out for flying passion and kisses whizzing by your head.” – Emma Racine deFleur
“Some old-fashioned things like fresh air and sunshine are hard to beat.” – Laura Ingalls Wilder
“It is spring again. The earth is like a child that knows poems by heart.” – Rainer Maria Rilke

“Spring won’t let me stay in this house any longer! I must get out and breathe the air deeply again.” – Gustav Mahler
“You make me feel so young, you make me feel so spring has sprung.” – Frank Sinatra, “You Make Me Feel So Young”
“If people did not love one another, I really don’t see what use there would be in having any spring.” – Victor Hugo
“I had always planned to make a large painting of the early spring, when the first leaves are at the bottom of the trees, and they seem to float in space in a wonderful way. But the arrival of spring can’t be done in one picture.” – David Hockney
“It was one of those March days when the sun shines hot and the wind blows cold: when it is summer in the light, and winter in the shade.” – Charles Dickens
“An optimist is the human personification of spring.” – Susan J. Bissonette
“That is one good thing about this world — there are always sure to be more springs.” – L. M. Montgomery
“Nostalgia in reverse, the longing for yet another strange land, grew especially strong in spring.” – Vladimir Nabokov
“But only a person in the depths of despair neglected to look beyond winter to the spring that inevitably followed, bringing back color and life and hope.” – Mary Balogh
“Spring will come and so will happiness. Hold on. Life will get warmer.” – Anita Krizan
“Behold, my friends, the spring is come; the earth has gladly received the embraces of the sun, and we shall soon see the results of their love.” – Sitting Bull
“It’s spring fever. That is what the name of it is. And when you’ve got it, you want — oh, you don’t quite know what it is you do want, but it just fairly makes your heart ache, you want it so!” – Mark Twain
“The beautiful spring came, and when nature resumes her loveliness, the human soul is apt to revive also.” – Harriet Ann Jacobs
“Science has never drummed up quite as effective a tranquilizing agent as a sunny spring day.” – W. Earl Hall

“People ask me what I do in winter when there’s no baseball. I’ll tell you what I do. I stare out the window and wait for spring.” – Rogers Hornsby
“Despite the forecast, live like it’s spring.” – Lilly Pulitzer
“Spring is the time of plans and projects.” – Leo Tolstoy
“The first real day of spring is like the first time a boy holds your hand. A flood of skin-tingling warmth consumes you, and everything shines with a fresh, colorful glow, making you forget that anything as cold and harsh as winter ever existed.” – Richelle E. Goodrich
“If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant; if we did not sometimes taste adversity, prosperity would not be so welcome.” – Anne Bradstreet
“Spring is the fountain of love for thirsty winter.” – Munia Khan
“The promise of spring’s arrival is enough to get anyone through the bitter winter!” – Jen Selinsky
“I suppose the best kind of spring morning is the best weather God has to offer.” – Dodie Smith
“If winter comes, can spring be far behind?” – Percy Bysshe Shelley

“April prepares her green traffic light and the world thinks, ‘Go.’” – Christopher Morley
“The sun was warm but the wind was chill / You know how it is with an April day.” – Robert Frost
“A kind word is like a spring day.” – Russian proverb
“I enjoy the spring more than the autumn now. One does, I think, as one gets older.” – Virginia Woolf
“Can words describe the fragrance of the very breath of spring?” – Neltje Blanchan
“Come with me into the woods. Where spring is advancing, as it does, no matter what, not being singular or particular, but one of the forever gifts, and certainly visible.” – Mary Oliver
“It was such a spring day as breathes into a man an ineffable yearning, a painful sweetness, a longing that makes him stand motionless, looking at the leaves or grass, and fling out his arms to embrace he knows not what.” – John Galsworthy
“Spring shows what God can do with a drab and dirty world.” – Virgil A. Kraft
“The first day of spring is one thing, and the first spring day is another. The difference between them is sometimes as great as a month.” – Henry Van Dyke
“With the coming of spring, I am calm again.” – Gustav Mahler
“I glanced out the window at the signs of spring. The sky was almost blue, the trees were almost budding, the sun was almost bright.” – Millard Kaufman
“Never cut a tree down in the wintertime. Never make a negative decision in the low time. Never make your most important decisions when you are in your worst moods. Wait. Be patient. The storm will pass. The spring will come.” – Robert H. Schuller

3 great gift ideas for spring

spring quotes Precious Peony Bouquet — Precious Peony Bouquet

spring quotes Solar Butterfly Birdbath — Solar Butterfly Birdbath

spring quotes Celebrate Spring Gift Basket — Celebrate Spring Gift Basket

Spring quotes about flowers

“Where flowers bloom, so does hope.” – Lady Bird Johnson
“Flowers don’t worry about how they’re going to bloom. They just open up and turn toward the light, and that makes them beautiful.” – Jim Carrey
“Never yet was a springtime when the buds forgot to bloom.” – Margaret Elizabeth Sangster
“Blossom by blossom, the spring begins.” – Algernon Charles Swinburne
“You can cut all the flowers, but you cannot keep spring from coming.” – Pablo Neruda
“A flower blossoms for its own joy.” – Oscar Wilde
“No matter how chaotic it is, wildflowers will still spring up in the middle of nowhere.” – Sheryl Crow
“Spring unlocks the flowers to paint the laughing soil.” – Bishop Reginald Heber

“The first blooms of spring always make my heart sing.” – S. Brown
“What a strange thing to be alive beneath cherry blossoms.” – Kobayashi Issa
“If you’ve never been thrilled to the very edges of your soul by a flower in spring bloom, maybe your soul has never been in bloom.” – Audra Foveo
“The earth laughs in flowers.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
“The flowers of late winter and early spring occupy places in our hearts well out of proportion to their size.” – Gertrude Wister
“Deep in their roots, all flowers keep the light.” – Theodore Roethke
“When all at once I saw a crowd, A host, of golden daffodils; Beside the lake, beneath the trees, Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.” – William Wordsworth
“Always it’s spring and everyone’s in love and flowers pick themselves.” – e. e. Cummings

Spring quotes about gardens

birthday gift ideas for mom with Welcome Garden Sign

“If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.” – Marcus Tullius Cicero
“To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow.” – Audrey Hepburn
“Spring makes its own statement, so loud and clear that the gardener seems to be only one of the instruments, not the composer.” – Geoffrey B. Charlesworth
“I think that no matter how old or infirm I may become, I will always plant a large garden in the spring. Who can resist the feelings of hope and joy that one gets from participating in nature’s rebirth?” – Edward Giobbi
“Spring drew on…and a greenness grew over those brown beds, which, freshening daily, suggested the thought that Hope traversed them at night, and left each morning brighter traces of her steps.” – Charlotte Brontë
“Don’t wait for someone to bring you flowers. Plant your own garden and decorate your own soul.” – Luther Burbank
“I love spring anywhere, but if I could choose, I would always greet it in a garden.” – Ruth Stout

24 Facts About the Season of Rebirth — Spring!

While there is no official right answer to the question “What is the best season?” data does exist that shows more Americans pick spring as their favorite time of year — and we couldn’t agree more. The weather is perfect, the trees are blooming, and tulips sprout from their bulbs just waiting to greet you…what’s not to love?

In honor of spring’s arrival, we’re sharing a few facts about this most magnificent season.

24 facts about spring

In 2024, the first day of spring will be on Tuesday, March 19.
The first day of spring is known as the vernal equinox.
In Latin, the word vernal means “spring” and equinox means “equal night.”
The Latin word for “season” is sationem, meaning “seed time.”

Spring was formerly referred to as lent, which was changed to springtime around the 1300s, and eventually was shortened to spring. Spring is derived from the time of year when plants begin to grow again or spring from the earth.
Attention all lovebirds! We hate to say it, but we may have some bad news for you. According to a Facebook study, early spring is when couples are most likely to break up.
The spring equinox is one of only two times (the other being the fall equinox) when the sun rises in the east and sets in the west.
If you were to stand on the equator during either the spring or fall equinox, you would see the sun pass directly over the top of your head.
In the North Pole, the spring equinox marks the start of six months of uninterrupted daylight…
…whereas in the South Pole, the spring equinox marks the start of six months of darkness.
Studies show that babies born in the spring are more likely to be night owls and optimistic.

The reason why we have spring (and other seasons) is because of the Earth’s tilt. If the Earth were perfectly perpendicular to the sun, the seasons or hours of daylight would not change.
The reason why Easter changes every year is that it falls on the first Sunday after the first full moon of the spring equinox.
Usually, the earliest spring flowers to bloom each year are tulips, daffodils, sunflowers, primrose, and lilies.
Though the spring equinox isn’t typically until March 20 or 21, many Americans consider March 1 to be the unofficial start of spring.
In Japan, they believe spring begins once their national flower, the cherry blossom, starts to bloom.
In Sicily, women travel to the garden of Adonis at the start of each spring. While there, they plant seeds and decorate the garden with a blue and crimson ribbon.
Years ago, it became a popular myth that you could balance an egg on its head during the spring equinox. However, it’s just a myth.
In China, they celebrate the start of spring and Chinese New Year at the same time because they follow a lunar calendar.

“Spring fever” may be a real (and good) thing! Scientists believe that longer days cause people to be more active, creative, and happy.
In literary works, spring is often used to represent birth, a revival, and the start of happy and better times.
Although baby birds are born with the ability to sing, they usually don’t learn how to until spring, when they hear other birds chirping while looking for a mate.
This year’s daylight saving time happens on Sunday, March 10, meaning we’ll “spring forward” one hour that day.
Spring holidays include Good Friday, Easter, Passover, April Fool’s Day, Earth Day, Arbor Day, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Cinco De Mayo, and Holi (festival of colors in India).

9 Ways to Keep Your Home Pollen-Free This Spring

After the long, cold months of winter, there’s nothing better than swinging open your doors and windows on the first warm day of spring. That is, until you turn around and realize that sticky, yellow pollen has taken over every inch of your home.

Luckily, there are things even the most severe allergy sufferers can do to ensure they still get to enjoy the sights, sounds, scents, and serenity of spring in their home. Here are nine ways to keep your home pollen-free this season.

pollen-free with kids laughing and playing in spring dandelion field

1. Kick your shoes off

The moment you come in from a day of hiking or exploring a spring garden, wipe your shoes off and remove them right away. If you want to go the extra mile, hose off the soles of your shoes outside before coming in.

2. Change your wardrobe

If your allergies are really severe, you may even want to throw the clothes you were wearing outside straight into the washing machine and put on indoor-only clothes, such as sweats or pajamas.

3. Choose hypoallergenic flowers

Rejoice allergy sufferers! There are dozens of hypoallergenic flowers that attract very little, and sometimes no, pollen, meaning even your home can be bursting with life and color this spring — not emergency boxes of tissues.

4. Love your laundry machine

Keeping your clothes, bedding, and furniture covers clean is incredibly important during the spring, which means throwing them in the washing machine about once a week. Take it a step further and invest in a certified allergy-reducing washing machine for year-round relief.

5. Track pollen levels

Just like you do the weather, track pollen levels in your area. Try to plan your spring activities in the morning and evening, when pollen levels are typically at their lowest.

6. Dust morning, noon, and night

Before you start thinking that your spring days will be spent inside in a never-ending cleaning montage, we have good news: When it comes to pollen, it’s better to dust more often than more intensely. So while you should dust a few times a day, each trip around your living room’s surfaces should only take a few minutes.

7. Say goodbye to knick-knacks

The more clutter you have in your home, the more places pollen can stick to and hide. Plus, your home will be easier to clean.

8. Smart landscape

Just like flowers, certain trees are more allergenic than others. If you’re looking to spruce up your yard, avoid adding male maple, birch, and ash trees to your landscape. The female versions of these trees, however, are good to go!

9. Adjust your humidity levels

Just like people and animals, dust mites and other common spring allergies need water survive, so they love a humid home. For homes without allergy sufferers, you can keep your humidity levels to around 50% or lower. If someone in your home suffers from spring allergies or asthma, you should bump humidity levels down to about 30%.

The Meaning of Spring

After a long, cold winter, there’s nothing better than hearing birds chirping and being able to open up your windows to let in a breath of fresh air. Not to mention, the first sign of a warm spring day is the perfect excuse to get back outside and start enjoying all of those seasonal activities you missed so much. But before you head outdoors to start planting, taking walks, riding your bike, and all the other fun things you do during this stunning season, let’s take a look at how it got its name and what it means.

meaning of spring with Woman on a bicycle with a basket full of flowers

A time for new beginnings

Spring is all about new beginnings and transformations; it’s a season that symbolizes starting fresh and starting over. After months of cold temperatures that often result in many of us feeling the winter blues, spring reawakens us and our surrounding environment, bringing everything back to life. Not only will you start to see the trees budding and bulbs poking through the ground, but we bet you’ll even feel better too.

The origin of “spring”

Before spring was actually called “spring,” it was referred to as “Lent” in Old English. For those who celebrate Easter, you may already be familiar with this term, as it is refers to the period leading up to Easter Sunday. During the 14th century, the period known as “Lent” started to be called “springing time,” since this was when plants, shrubs, trees, and other greenery started springing back up from the ground. A century later this term was shortened to “spring time,” and a century after that it was shortened, you guessed it, simply “spring.”

Spring’s astronomical meaning

The period known as spring symbolizes the time between the spring equinox and the summer solstice (the time when the North Pole faces the sun at its greatest angle). A quick science lesson: Each year there are two equinoxes, days when day and night are practically equal. What we know as the spring, or vernal, equinox usually occurs sometime around March 21 for those in the Northern Hemisphere. For those in the Southern Hemisphere, the spring equinox happens around Sept. 21. Thus, our spring starts on the first day that day and night appear for almost the same amount of time, and ends when the North Pole tips toward the sun to the greatest degree possible.

Although the start of spring can make things a little difficult on our health (spring allergies, anyone?), it surely is one of the greatest times of the year. The sun is shining, flowers are blooming, temperatures are rising…it’s just what we need!