Springing into Savannah Spring
Written by Ky Tanella, Photos and Graphics by Ky Tanella.
Springtime (bordering on Summertime) is here in Savannah! This means lots of rain and muggy weather, but most of all, it means beautiful flowers, bugs, and activities! I absolutely love nature, so I will take you through a few highlights I’ve found on many nature walks and even some fun facts about them (oh boy!).
First, the hydrangeas are in full bloom around Forsyth Park, allowing for a beautiful pop of color around the park’s outskirts! Did you know hydrangeas change color based on the pH (measurement of acidity) of the soil they’re planted in? For example, in a more acidic pH (<7.0), hydrangeas tend to take on a blue or purple high, while in a more basic/alkaline-based soil (>7.0), they tend to be pink! I found a few different colors around Forsyth, with the softer blues being planted in more acidic soil while the pinks are more basic!
This is also a BIG year for cicada emergence! Brood X (one of 15 periodical broods of cicadas) last emerged 17 years ago and are re-emerging across the U.S. once again! These cicadas are emerging with both the 13-year and 17-year-old broods, the first time this has happened since 2015. Broods 13 and 19 will also co-emerge for the first time together since 1803!! Cicadas are harmless to humans, but they are VERY loud; you’ve probably already heard dozens of them at a time in the trees around Savannah. This is a historical event (I’m deeply terrified of bugs)!
The jasmine flowers also finally bloom during the summer, bringing beauty and a rich, sweet, earthy scent to Savannah. You can find bushes scattered around Savannah, but they shine around Forsyth Park. They can be seen sprawling up staircases and crawling up beautiful brick mansions, and most residents have bushes of them in and around their front porches. Jasmine can represent dozens of virtues across all cultures, but they are consistently associated with love, romance, seduction and beauty.
Due to the heavy rains and muggy weather, you’ll also see a lot of mushrooms popping up around more woodsy areas! DO NOT EAT THEM, but feel free to give them a little tap if they’re safe for touching! We have lots of cool mushroom species native to Georgia, so go out and forage safely, of course!!
Springtime in Savannah is my second favorite season here (close to fall); it’s always so nice and beautiful to see the flowers blooming and the Sun shining much longer (throwing tomatoes at Daylight savings)! Have lots of fun this Spring, and don’t forget to take your allergy meds!!
