With Warmer Temperatures Comes Hope For Spring

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- There is still plenty of snow and ice to go around but this little warm up we're experiencing has everyone hoping for spring.

It's been a cold and miserable winter. The snow and ice came early and it's still here.

Many Minnesotans are growing weary of the white stuff and tired of the ice.

A bright sun and the sounds of snow melting has many in a good mood -- hopeful that spring is not far off.

"We're pretending like it's spring today," said Riley Parsons.

Many ran to the place where spring is in effect year round -- the Como Zoo and Conservatory.

"Here with the flowers and it's hot, a little bit of sweating going on, hair's curling up," she said.

It's where Parsons introduced her infant daughter Whitney to something she hasn't seen much of in her short life.

"She has no idea what sun is," she said. "She kind of looks at this like, 'What is this, mom? Where do you have me right now? Where is the white stuff? Where is the freezing?'"

Reminders of that wicked weather are just outside the confines of the conservatory.

Weather that has many longing for change and hoping for temperatures that do not have a negative in front of them.

"Instead of complain, you just fix it and come to where they have spring," Stone said.

A quiet of game of scrabble on a bench surrounded by flowers, a nice conversation in the midst of green plants, if this doesn't give you hope for spring, nothing will.

"This is our first outing," said Leanne Parker.

Two-week-old Olive has figured out what season she likes best.

"The sun is shining," Parker said. "She has not been this calm yet, so she's happy. She's loving it."

Hope for weather that doesn't keep you trapped inside.

"We see 40 degrees and we'll take them all walking at the lakes," Parsons said.

Minnesotans are itching for the sun to wash out old man winter and all that comes with it -- out of sight and out of mind.