The Vernal Equinox and a mild weather forecast for southwest VA mean blooms from spring-flowering bulbs and blossoms from ornamental trees and shrubs for Easter Sunday.
Vernal Equinox, Full Moon and Easter
Each year, the synchronous occurrences of the Vernal Equinox and Easter bring to my mind a chant I've taught to students and my own children to answer the question, "How do we determine the date of Easter?" The traditional formulaic response says, "Easter is the first Sunday after the first full moon after the Vernal Equinox."
The date and time for the Vernal Equinox - 2008 is, according to the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration, March 20 at 5:49 Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). On this day, the sun shines directly on the equator, and the length of day and night are nearly equal in all parts of the world. The first full moon on or after the Vernal Equinox is March 21 at 18:41 UTC. So, Easter Sunday is March 23 - the earliest Easter I'll see in my lifetime.
Date and Time Facts
- The last time Easter celebration on March 23rd was 95 years ago in 1913.
- Easter will not be this early again until the year 2228.
- In 2285, Easter will be one day earlier, March 22nd, the earliest it can ever take place.
Easter Week Temperatures in Southwest VA
Today's temperatures here in southwest VA are in the high 60s reaching toward the low 70s, but with wind, dark clouds and rain. The forecast for Easter Sunday's sunrise services, egg hunts and family walks promises moderate temperatures in the 32 to 55° range with modest sunshine.
Easter Sunday Blooms
- Daffodils, hyacinths and crocus
- Viola x wittrockiana (pansies)
- Helleborus niger and H. orientalis cultivars
- Rosmarinus officinale (rosemary)
- Vinca minor and V. minor 'Sterling Silver'
- Forsythia cultivars
- Magnolia stellata (star magnolia) and M. soulangiana (saucer magnolia)
- Pyrus calleryana (callery pear / 'Bradford')
- Prunus cerasifera cultivars (purple-leaf plums) and P. x cistena (purple-leaf sand cherry)
- Salix caprea 'Pendula' (weeping goat willow) and S. melanostachys (black pussy willow).
© Georgene A. Bramlage. 2008.
