Micro seasons discovery through nature journaling

I've been enjoying seeing the signs of the changing seasons. Although on the calendar divides the year into four major seasons there are so many more micro seasons I've observed in my nearby nature.

In Japan, there are 72 recognized micro seasons! I am of Japanese heritage but never learned about this until a few years ago. People around the world have been making observations in nature, and marking the calendar by these natural events.

In Japan they sound like this "First cherry blossoms" or "Frogs start singing" "Self-heal withers" and "hawks learn to fly", each lasting about a 5-day window.

Its so poetic, and deeply nature-connecting.

When we observe nature and intentionally notice the big changes as well as the subtle, we begin to notice more. The mundane starts so light up, like finding Easter eggs in a vast green backdrop.

Our eyes widen, and start to discern small details.

The more you observe, get curious about it, sketch it, look again, write what you notice, you are connecting with it through your mind and heart. You're building your relationship to it by throwing a thread of connection to it. The next time you see it, you might say, "oh, I recognize you!, Hello! my, you have more leaves today" and you cast another thread of connection.

Every time you see it, experience it, reflect on it, you're building more threads until those threads can combine into string, and eventually a rope. You are creating a network of memories, collection of information, learning about its ecology, increasing your personal connection with your nature 'kin'.

By giving more intentional attention, it begins to change the way to see, connect and feel about nature.

If you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.

Wayne Dyer, author and motivational speaker

To notice, observe, wonder, sketch, write and connect your relationship this subject changes. An opening is created for you to care about it's well-being, have gratitude for it, and develop a love and caring.

Nature journaling is a beautiful way to develop your conversation with nature.

Here are some of my local micro seasons I've noticed over time

• 🌸Ceanothus (wild lilac) blooms

• 🌼Cymbidium flower spikes emerge

• 🪶Golden-crowned sparrows return!

• 🪶Fledgling season begins

• 🦉Barn owls begin nesting

• 🐸Chorus frogs begin singing

• 🪶Nesting ravens return

• 🫛First greens beans ready to harvest

• 🪴Thyme flowers

• 🦋Oak moths flutter as clouds around oaks

• 🐛Buckeye caterpillars marching on plantain stalks

• 🍊Cherry Guavas ripen (start of ripening)

• ❄️First frost

• Naked Lady flowers leaf out (these flowers bloom with NO leaves in summer, leaves come later)

These are longer seasons:

• ☀️Sun reaches into kitchen ( winter, the low angle of sun beams through the south facing sliding glass door of our kitchen- i love this time of year)

• 🌅Sunset views in Living room window (only in summer thru our West facing window- its obscured by the garage in other parts of the year)

  

  

  

What are my unique micro seasons?

You might think, "where can I find a book with micro seasons for my country or area?"

While you could try to search at the library or online, it might not exist.

A book about Sycamores can tell you general seasonality, and an insect guide might give you date ranges for butterflies, caterpillars for the ones in your area. But only YOU can gather the micro seasons of your garden, or neighborhood- with its unique collection of living beings.

Its more meaningful to gather this information yourself and save in your nature journal!

How can I begin?

You can begin the process of creating your micro season calendar, one observation at a time.

This is a process, and a fun one if you allow it to be.

Begin with making an intention to notice and observe the world around you.

Then, go out in your garden, or nearby park, or out your window. Jot your observations and curiosity down in your journal with the date and descriptions. Continue noticing what's happening in nature.

You could choose an area that you see or visit often, outside your window, or your back yard or garden.

You can create a "Garden News" or "Outside my Window" page each month or whenever you feel like it to track the seasons.

How can I keep track of what I notice?

There are so many ways to keep track our your observations as you uncover your micro seasons.

1. In your Nature Journal, Any entry becomes a building block of understanding your micro seasons. One idea I use is to make a page with "Garden News" or "At the Park" or where ever you're wanting to track and add the observations that spark your attention. Do not feel like you have to record everything. Maybe 3-5 things you see.
   

   1. It can be a list of words

      1. " Hydrangeas are in full bloom, I see newly fledged sparrows hopping around begging for food from parents, the sound of the wind through the sycamore trees is so calming"

   2. Make sketches with your notes

   3. Be sure to add date and location.

   4. Optional weather info (cloudy, sunny, temperature, wind level)- whatever interests you

      Let this be simple and easy. At the end of the season, or year, you can go through your journal pages to see any patterns.

2. 

   A Perpetual Journal: This type of journal tracks observations over one week time increments. A 2-page spread for 7 days worth of observations, over several years. At the end of five or so years you'll see visually what happens in your nearby nature!

   
   

   I had started making a perpetual journal, but I found that my regular journal was easier. You can modify the process to fit your needs.

   Here is a beautiful book by Laura Gastinger: The Perpetual Journal Practice. Its available in my online bookshop, if your local bookseller cannot get for you.

   
   

   Note: Use as inspiration and avoid falling into comparison mode- you can start where you are with simple scribbly sketches--this is not about fine illustration.

3. A Five- year Journal: Like this one by The Naturalist Notebook. I have and use this to make quick notes of my seasonal observations. But my main nature journal gathers all the sketches and notes.

I go thru this book periodically and add notes from my regular main nature journal.

1. 

Whats the simplest way?

Just Keep it Simple--From my experience the easiest way is just to use your nature journal, and record when you see something that captures your attention.

After you've observed for one year, you can return to last years pages to anticipate what might happen in your nearby nature. You'll begin to notice new things, and begin to understand and remember more about what's around you.

Reminders as you begin:

There's no right way to do this.

This is not an assignment that has an end.

It takes time to gather these observations. But Remember that whats more important is the process, not the product of a complete calendar of seasons.

Through this process you will receive calming benefits from nature, get to know your nature friends, and their life cycles, cultivate a deeper connection to nature's rhythm, and develop keener sense of awareness of your surrounding outside and inside.

You can read the more in-depth article I wrote on Substack about micro-seasons and building relationships with nature journaling and a list of activities to track your micro-seasons- HERE

Read the Full article: Micro Seasons & Building Relationships with Nature

All photos and artwork by Melinda Nakagawa © 2026 Please ask for permission before using images.