The Four Seasons: Weather, Nature, and Animal Cycles

Spring

Weather: Mild, warming; rain, thunderstorms, occasional hail.
Plants: Budburst, flowering, new growth.
Animals: Hibernators emerge; birds migrate north; mammals birth young.

Summer

Weather: Hot, humid; sunny with storms.
Plants: Peak growth; fruit/vegetable ripening (tomatoes, peppers).
Animals: Warm-climate species active; insects, reptiles, birds abundant.

Fall (Autumn)

Weather: Cooling, mild; rain, fog, early frost.
Plants: Leaf color change (red/orange/yellow), abscission.
Animals: Food caching (squirrels); bird migration south; winter coat growth.

Winter

Weather: Cold, snow, ice; short days.
Plants: Dormant; deciduous trees bare.
Animals: Adaptations: thick fur (polar bears), camouflage (ptarmigan), hibernation, torpor.

These patterns define temperate zones; tropical/polar regions differ significantly.