![LIVERMORE, CA - MARCH 19: California poppies are photographed on...]()
LIVERMORE, CA - MARCH 19: California poppies are photographed on the first day of spring in Livermore, Calif., on Thursday, March 19, 2020. (Doug Duran/Bay Area News Group)
![BERKELEY, CA - MARCH 19: Wild mustard is seen along...]()
BERKELEY, CA - MARCH 19: Wild mustard is seen along a trail on the first day of spring at Tilden Regional Park in Berkeley, Calif., on March 19, 2020. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
![OAKLAND, CA - MARCH 19: Tulips among other perennials adorn...]()
Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group Archives
OAKLAND, CA - MARCH 19: Tulips among other perennials adorn the beautiful garden of the Mormon Temple in Oakland, Calif., on Thursday, March 19, 2020. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)
![LIVERMORE, CA - MARCH 19: A bee collects pollen from...]()
LIVERMORE, CA - MARCH 19: A bee collects pollen from a California poppy on the first day of spring in Livermore, Calif., on Thursday, March 19, 2020. (Doug Duran/Bay Area News Group)
![GILROY - MARCH 19: Mustard plants bloom on Santa Teresa...]()
GILROY - MARCH 19: Mustard plants bloom on Santa Teresa Boulevard in Gilroy, Calif., on Thursday, March 19, 2020. (Randy Vazquez / Bay Area News Group)
![WALNUT CREEK, CA - MARCH 19: Pollen covers a flower...]()
WALNUT CREEK, CA - MARCH 19: Pollen covers a flower alongside a trail during the first day of Spring at Heather Farm Park in Walnut Creek, Calif., on Thursday, March 19, 2020. Many people are out enjoying the nice weather due to the recent coronavirus outbreak. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
![LIVERMORE, CA - MARCH 19: Clare Cassidy of Livermore takes...]()
LIVERMORE, CA - MARCH 19: Clare Cassidy of Livermore takes a photo as her son Aidan Kulchinsky as he lies in the tall grass next to California poppies on the first day of spring in Livermore, Calif., on Thursday, March 19, 2020. (Doug Duran/Bay Area News Group)
![DUBLIN, CA - MARCH 19: A flowering tree is photographed...]()
DUBLIN, CA - MARCH 19: A flowering tree is photographed on the first day of spring in Dublin, Calif., on Thursday, March 19, 2020. (Doug Duran/Bay Area News Group)
![California Golden Poppies bloom along a hillside during the first...]()
California Golden Poppies bloom along a hillside during the first day of Spring in Lafayette, Calif., on Thursday, March 19, 2020. Many people are out enjoying the nice weather due to the recent coronavirus outbreak. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
![REDWOOD SHORES, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 19: A cyclist pedals past...]()
REDWOOD SHORES, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 19: A cyclist pedals past a blooming tree in Redwood City, Calif., on the first day of spring, and the third day of coronavirus shelter in place, Thursday, March 18, 2020. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group)
![REDWOOD SHORES, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 19: Despite the coronavirus outbreak,...]()
REDWOOD SHORES, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 19: Despite the coronavirus outbreak, San Franciscans enjoy the first day of spring amongst the flowers in Golden Gate Park, Thursday, March 19, 2020, in San Francisco, Calif. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group)
![OAKLAND, CA - MARCH 19: Nasturtiums are seen on the...]()
OAKLAND, CA - MARCH 19: Nasturtiums are seen on the first day of spring in Oakland, Calif., on March 19, 2020. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
![OAKLAND, CA - MARCH 19: Hikers pass poppies as they...]()
OAKLAND, CA - MARCH 19: Hikers pass poppies as they hike on the first day of spring at Reinhardt Redwood Regional Park in Oakland, Calif., on March 19, 2020. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
![LIVERMORE, CA - MARCH 19: California poppies are photographed on...]()
LIVERMORE, CA - MARCH 19: California poppies are photographed on the first day of spring in Livermore, Calif., on Thursday, March 19, 2020. (Doug Duran/Bay Area News Group)
![CONCORD, CA - MARCH 19: Sunlight peaks through the clouds...]()
CONCORD, CA - MARCH 19: Sunlight peaks through the clouds as a lone tree sits silhouetted on a hill along Ygnacio Valley Road in Concord, Calif., on Thursday, March 19, 2020. Many people are out enjoying the nice weather due to the recent coronavirus outbreak. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
![WALNUT CREEK, CA - MARCH 19: People gather at the...]()
WALNUT CREEK, CA - MARCH 19: People gather at the waters edge while keeping their distance during the first day of Spring at Heather Farm Park in Walnut Creek, Calif., on Thursday, March 19, 2020. Many people are out enjoying the nice weather due to the recent coronavirus outbreak. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
![OAKLAND, CA - MARCH 19: Red geraniums are seen on...]()
OAKLAND, CA - MARCH 19: Red geraniums are seen on the first day of spring in Oakland, Calif., on March 19, 2020. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
![SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 19: Two hikers hike past...]()
SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 19: Two hikers hike past California Poppies on the Stile Ranch Trail at Santa Teresa County Park in San Jose, Calif., on Thursday, March 19, 2020. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
![WALNUT CREEK, CA - MARCH 19: David Kershaw, of Walnut...]()
WALNUT CREEK, CA - MARCH 19: David Kershaw, of Walnut Creek, walks with his wife Winifred Kershaw as they walk pass a field of mustard flowers during the first day of Spring at Heather Farm Park in Walnut Creek, Calif., on Thursday, March 19, 2020. Many people are out enjoying the nice weather due to the recent coronavirus outbreak. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
![SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 19: A man runs past...]()
SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 19: A man runs past California Poppies on the Stile Ranch Trail at Santa Teresa County Park in San Jose, Calif., on Thursday, March 19, 2020. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
![OAKLAND, CA - MARCH 19: Visitors stroll along the garden...]()
OAKLAND, CA - MARCH 19: Visitors stroll along the garden of the Mormon Temple in Oakland, Calif., on Thursday, March 19, 2020. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)
![OAKLAND, CA - MARCH 19: Purple lupine is seen along...]()
OAKLAND, CA - MARCH 19: Purple lupine is seen along Skyline Boulevard near the Reinhardt Redwood Regional Park on the first day of spring in Oakland, Calif., on March 19, 2020. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
![REDWOOD SHORES, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 19: A bird flies past...]()
REDWOOD SHORES, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 19: A bird flies past a bank full of blooming flowers in Redwood City, Calif., on the first day of spring, Thursday, March 18, 2020. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group)
![BERKELEY, CA - MARCH 19: Purple flowers are seen along...]()
BERKELEY, CA - MARCH 19: Purple flowers are seen along Grizzly Peak Boulevard in Berkeley, Calif., on March 19, 2020. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
![REDWOOD SHORES, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 19: A pedestrian walks along...]()
REDWOOD SHORES, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 19: A pedestrian walks along the shores of Redwood City, Calif., on the first day of spring and the third day of coronavirus shelter in place, Thursday, March 18, 2020. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group)
![LIVERMORE, CA - MARCH 19: California poppies are photographed on...]()
LIVERMORE, CA - MARCH 19: California poppies are photographed on the first day of spring in Livermore, Calif., on Thursday, March 19, 2020. (Doug Duran/Bay Area News Group)
![OAKLAND, CA - MARCH 19: Hikers pass poppies as they...]()
OAKLAND, CA - MARCH 19: Hikers pass poppies as they hike on the first day of spring at Reinhardt Redwood Regional Park in Oakland, Calif., on March 19, 2020. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
![OAKLAND, CA - MARCH 19: Tulips among other perennials adorn...]()
OAKLAND, CA - MARCH 19: Tulips among other perennials adorn the garden of the Mormon Temple in Oakland, Calif., on Thursday, March 19, 2020. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)
![LAFAYETTE, CA - MARCH 19: California Golden Poppies bloom along...]()
LAFAYETTE, CA - MARCH 19: California Golden Poppies bloom along a hillside during the first day of Spring in Lafayette, Calif., on Thursday, March 19, 2020. Many people are out enjoying the nice weather due to the recent coronavirus outbreak. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
![HALF MOON BAY, CA - MARCH 19: A field of...]()
HALF MOON BAY, CA - MARCH 19: A field of flowering mustard plants is photographed on the first day of spring in Half Moon Bay, Calif., on Thursday, March 19, 2020. (Anda Chu/Bay Area News Group)
![LIVERMORE, CA - MARCH 19: California poppies are photographed on...]()
LIVERMORE, CA - MARCH 19: California poppies are photographed on the first day of spring in Livermore, Calif., on Thursday, March 19, 2020. (Doug Duran/Bay Area News Group)
![OAKLAND, CA - MARCH 19: Tulips among other perennials adorn...]()
OAKLAND, CA - MARCH 19: Tulips among other perennials adorn the beautiful garden of the Mormon Temple in Oakland, Calif., on Thursday, March 19, 2020. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)
![WALNUT CREEK, CA - MARCH 19: Clouds surround the summit...]()
WALNUT CREEK, CA - MARCH 19: Clouds surround the summit of Mount Diablo as seen from a trail during the first day of Spring near the Milton F. Kubicek Detention Basin in Walnut Creek, Calif., on Thursday, March 19, 2020. Many people are out enjoying the nice weather due to the recent coronavirus outbreak. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
![OAKLAND, CA - MARCH 19: People hike on the first...]()
OAKLAND, CA - MARCH 19: People hike on the first day of spring at Reinhardt Redwood Regional Park in Oakland, Calif., on March 19, 2020. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
![BERKELEY, CA - MARCH 19: A hiker leaps over a...]()
BERKELEY, CA - MARCH 19: A hiker leaps over a gate on the first day of spring at Tilden Regional Park in Berkeley, Calif., on March 19, 2020. Infrastructure areas were closed, but trails remained open on the third day of the Bay Area coronavirus lockdown. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
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The first day of spring came early in America. Instead of the usual date of March 20 or March 21, the vernal equinox arrived nationwide on March 19.
The last time it was on this date was in 1896, which was 124 years ago. On Thursday, Bay Area residents enjoyed some of the partial sunshine and enjoyed exercise amid the coronavirus outbreak and subsequent Bay Area shelter-in-place. All over the region, flowers are already in bloom and animals are about.
The reason for the early spring is connected with the reason for leap years. Earth’s orbit around the sun isn’t exactly 365 days. It’s more like 365.24 days and that fact shifts the time around on the calendars that humans use to measure time.
The following photo gallery above shows scenes from the first spring in the Bay Area. For more images, please follow our Instagram account here.
