When is the First Day of Spring?

Wednesday marks the first day of spring, also known as the vernal equinox.

The word "equinox" is derived from Latin and means "equal nights." The vernal equinox is when sunrise and sunset are 12 hours apart everywhere on Earth, around March 20. Some people believe that day and night are of equal length on March 20, but the day is a little longer than the night on this date.

Here are some fun facts about the vernal equinox:

• If you were standing on the equator during either the vernal or autumnal equinox, you would see the sun pass directly overhead.
• The two equinoxes are also the only times during the year when the sun rises due east and sets due west.
• During the spring, the Earth’s axis is tilted toward the sun, which increases the number of daylight hours and brings warmer weather.

We are asking Kingstowne Patch readers to upload their favorite local garden photos to celebrate the first day of spring. Click on the "Upload Photos or Videos" button above to submit your photo.