Today (September 1) marks the official arrival of spring in many parts of the Southern Hemisphere, including South Africa.

The first energising glimpses of the new season bring hope and are considered by many a time for rebirth and new beginnings.

There are beautiful blossoms and greenery everywhere, plenty of sunshine with high temperatures and the days are, thankfully, getting lighter and longer.

Forecasters predict a bright sunny and pleasant start to the weekend with temperatures reaching highs of 27°C and 28 °C.

To greet the glorious season with a warm embrace, some locals have organised festivities, including braaing, dancing and musical shows, and the warm welcome is expected to continue throughout the weekend.

Among the festivities to mark the official arrival of the new season, Spring Day, members of the Dancing Boots Line Dancing club visited Huis Dien Bothma Old Age Home, where they entertained the senior citizens with their uplifting dance moves.

Meanwhile, Marietjie Gouws (74), of Andries Scribante Haven, stopped to take a look at the host of flowering plants gradually filling their gardens with colourful roses, while other plant species that shed their garments during the previous seasons are gradually putting on their attire for spring.

Gouws said she enjoys seeing the environment bursting into life and colour, with the nourishing sunlight; and she looks forward to more sunny spring weather.
Her fellow residents were also spotted sunbathing in a sunny afternoon on the lawn at the centre a few days ahead of Spring day.

Although it may be a little early for those who feel a little chilly, the city has reopened some of its swimming pools and families are expected to head for the local pools to brave a splash in the water.

For those living on the streets the sunny weather is a welcome relief after the harsh winter of discontent they have endured over the last couple of months.

Hibernating animals, too, will soon be emerging from their winter hideaways to embrace the new season and to mate.

Send us your spring celebration photos
We want to know how you are celebrating the arrival of spring, if you are.

You can email your photos to faniem@caxton.co.za

NB: Please remember to identify everybody in the photo by first name and surnames if they are less than ten people. Also let us know a little about the activity going on.

Also Read: Spring – a time for new beginnings

Also Read: Ekurhuleni reopens some of its swimming pools