As most of you on the east coast know, spring is fashionably late this year and winter lingers on with another late season snow storm last Wednesday. Spring is so late in arriving that the National Park Service has pushed the Cherry Blossom peak bloom prediction back not once, but twice.

For those of us (me) who are heliophiles ((n.) lover of the sun) and need warm temps, we suffer on these cold days. So in anticipation of the warm spring weather and the cherry blossoms, I chose a spring word theme.

Today’s word is Vernal (adj.) – of or relating to spring, which comes from the Latin vernus (“of the spring”).

Bonus words for today’s spring theme:

• pullulate (v.) – to sprout
• primaveral  (adj.) – of, in, or pertaining to the early springtime
• verdant (adj.) – of the color green; green with vegetation
• petrichor (n) – the pleasant earthy smell after rain
• whiffle (v.) – to blow with light, shifting gusts

And for you Disney fans, from Bambi 

• twitterpated (adj.) – excited or overcome by romantic feelings; smitten

Nearly everybody gets twitterpated in the springtime. For example: You’re walking along, minding your own business. You’re looking neither to the left, nor to the right, when all of a sudden you run smack into a pretty face. Whoo-whoo! You begin to get weak in the knees. Your head’s in a whirl. And then you feel light as a feather, and before you know it, you’re walking on air. And then you know what? You’re knocked for a loop, and you completely lose your head! Friend Owl

Share your favorite springtime word in the comments below.