Thursday is the first day of spring, or the vernal equinox, in the Northern Hemisphere. During an equinox, the center of the sun is on the same plane as the equator. After the vernal equinox in March, the Northern Hemisphere tilts toward the sun until the June solstice, when the sun begins to migrate back south.

Gardening Expert Melinda Myers joins AccuWeather in sharing some gardening tips to begin the early start of the spring season, including which plants she recommends planting at this time of year.

Excited to get to your spring cleaning? How about more sunlight and flowers? Or will allergies upend your plans? A look at the numbers behind the changes the vernal equinox brings to our lives.