The ‘In-Between’ Season: How February Bridges Winter and Spring
Spring is often seen as a flower-adorned threshold to summer. But before it officially arrives, there’s a brief in-between season—a bridge between winter and the warmer days ahead. Beginning in late February and stretching into March, this narrow crossing carries us from winter’s stillness into spring’s first signs of life.
Tree buds swell as fog sets in
Like the “leaping bridges” of The Parklands arching over the water, this seasonal crossing offers a view in both directions—winter lingering behind us and spring taking shape ahead.
Along the way, tree buds begin to swell and small tufts of grass push through the landscape, giving us hints of greener, brighter days to come. In the quiet of morning, a slow-drifting fog may settle over the parks. The atmospheric wonder, combined with soft sunlight, reminds us this in-between passage has its own peaceful beauty.
Winter works beneath the surface
On a chilly February or March day, when winter still lingers in the air, you might feel anchored in the current season. Take a closer look, and you’ll notice the subtle magic of frost sparkling across the landscape, flurries drifting on a light breeze, and squirrels carrying on with their frenetic routines.
Yet beneath that quiet surface, important work is underway. While the last frost typically doesn’t arrive until April, the freeze-thaw cycles of late winter help loosen and aerate the soil, supporting its overall health. These cycles also signal early spring ephemerals that their time to bloom is approaching.
Signs of new wildlife appear
In February, on warm and rainy nights, salamanders begin emerging from their burrows and make their way to breeding ponds, vernal pools, and stream backchannels. (On March 7, as part our Junior Explorer program, we’ll celebrate these amazing amphibians at a free, family-friendly event. Learn more here.)
Around the same time, sandhill cranes pass through Kentucky on their journey north, sometimes in impressive numbers overhead.
By early March, the first neotropical songbirds begin to return. On a morning or afternoon hike, you might spot a ruby-throated hummingbird or hear the distinct calls of newly arrived yellow-bellied sapsucker. To explore more about these species and their migration paths, read this article from our founder, Dan Jones.
At The Parklands, the Allee Wetlands in Beckley Creek Park is a perfect place to watch for these visitors. With a small pond and hydrophytic vegetation—sedges, lilies, and cattails—the area reflects our ongoing work to restore historic wetland habitat that supports birds and other wildlife.
The efforts of our park teams take root
Our Horticulture and Natural Areas Team is working to bring vibrant color to the parks with a mix of flower installations. In the planted gardens, you may start to see hardy early bloomers appearing across the landscape, adding bright pops of purple, white, and yellow to the budding spring scene.
An occasion to celebrate
When our park designers envisioned bridges shaped like leaping deer, they wanted every crossing of the Floyds Fork stream to feel like a special occasion. The same can be said for the bridge to spring. With its constantly changing conditions—rain and sunshine one day, snow the next—each step forward brings a small sense of adventure and delight.
Enjoy this passage through the in-between. Before you know it, you’ll find yourself surrounded by meadows, vibrant green, and the full beauty of spring.