Spring Story Archives - West Virginia Public Broadcasting

The Many Uses Of Violets And Ed Snodderly Has Our Song Of The Week, This West Virginia Morning

On this West Virginia Morning, violets bloom across Appalachia throughout spring, but the flowers are more than just some extra color in the yard. They’ve long been a key ingredient in herbal remedies.

On this West Virginia Morning, violets bloom across Appalachia throughout spring, but the flowers are more than just some extra color in the yard. They’ve long been a key ingredient in herbal remedies. For Inside Appalachia, Folkways Reporter Wendy Welch brings us this story.

Also, in this show, our Mountain Stage Song of the Week comes to us Ed Snodderly, whose songs have been recorded by some of roots music’s most well-known names. We listen to his performance of “Gone with Gone and Long Time,” accompanied by the Mountain Stage Band and Lisa Pattison on fiddle and vocals.

West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.

Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University.

Our Appalachia Health News project is made possible with support from Marshall Health.

West Virginia Morning is produced with help from Bill Lynch, Briana Heaney, Chris Schulz, Curtis Tate, Emily Rice, Eric Douglas, Jack Walker, Liz McCormick, and Randy Yohe.

Eric Douglas is our news director. Emily Rice produced this episode.

Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning

Banking Concerns And Spring Has Sprung On This West Virginia Morning

On this West Virginia Morning, the last few weeks of news from the world of banking has shaken confidence in financial institutions both at home and abroad. Reporter Chris Schulz set out to find what the real impact has been on West Virginia’s financial institutions.

On this West Virginia Morning, the last few weeks of news from the world of banking has shaken confidence in financial institutions both at home and abroad. Reporter Chris Schulz set out to find what the real impact has been on West Virginia’s financial institutions.

Also, on this show, the Allegheny Front, based in Pittsburgh, shares its latest story about when Spring has actually sprung.

West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.

Support for our news bureaus comes from West Virginia University, Concord University, and Shepherd University.

Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning

Spring Arrives Early Across Appalachia

According to the the USA National Phenology Network’s 2023 report, spring leaves sprouted 20 days earlier than usual in Appalachia.

Spring has sprung early, according to the annual Status of Spring report from the USA National Phenology Network.

Phenology is the study of seasonal change and the network tracks when leaves sprout as heat accumulates across the nation.

According to the network’s 2023 report, spring leaves sprouted 20 days earlier than usual in Appalachia.

Appalachia is not alone in its early spring as parts of the southeast, lower Midwest, and mid-Atlantic are seeing either the earliest spring on record or a spring that only occurs once every 40 years.

Without a harsh enough winter, plants adapt and respond as they have for millennia. Spring leaf out continues to spread north, arriving several days to weeks earlier than average in much of the nation.

At the beginning of each calendar year, nature responds to gradual heat accumulation in the earth’s atmosphere. When the daily average is above freezing, plants and animals act accordingly, preparing to grow.

While a mild winter is enjoyable to some, without low temperatures plants sprout earlier, disrupting gardeners’ and farmers’ crops.

Watch: Spring Has Sprung At The West Virginia Botanic Garden

While the coronavirus is forcing many of us to stay largely at home, spring in West Virginia has not gotten the message.

Flowers are blooming and birds are out in full force. Although many places are closed, West Virginians can still get outside during the coronavirus pandemic, as long as safe social distancing practices are observed.

One of the places that remains open is the West Virginia Botanic Garden. The 85-acre non-profit nature preserve is located in Morgantown, in what was previously the city’s water supply, Tibbs Run Reservoir. The reservoir was drained in 1980, and the property was leased to the West Virginia Botanic Garden in 1999.

Senior Producer John Nakashima recently spent some time at the Botanic Garden and found spring in full bloom.

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