Countdown to Spring - Snowmelt, Baby, Snowmelt

We had snow again early on Friday.  I didn't whine or complain.  Why?  After several days of not getting out of the 20s during the day and being in the teens and even single digits a couple of times at night, we were graced this last week with 40s, 50s, and even one day when it hit 60.  The snow we had on Friday managed to total 3", but it was immediately compressed and then gone thanks to rain and above freezing temperatures.  I happily shoveled a half-inch of slush off my deck and walkway just to speed the process of making it go away.

As I looked outside today, the area around trees and bushes is down to bare ground for a circumference of anywhere from 1 to 3 feet.  There's life in that there plant-life!  Looking closer, the actual snow depth in general, save for where it was shoveled to from the previous snowstorms, is only about 2-3".  With our temperatures forecast again to be in the 40s and 50s for the first week of March, we might be down to mostly bare ground by the end of the week.  My apologies to any snow lovers, but I am very much looking forward to that, and may have to do a Snoopy dance when it happens.  Yeah, I may be 63, overweight and have arthritis, but I can still manage to look that silly.  Spring fever will do that.

Only 20 days until spring.

Countdown to Spring - Well, It Had to Happen

Today, I shall not discuss snow and snow shoveling.  I think I've clearly established that I'm tired of the precipitation type and the action required to remove it from places where I walk.  Tomorrow, we're supposed to have a little more, as in 1-3" of snow mixed in with rain.  I can deal with it because after that, temperatures will be in the 40's all week.  Let the snowmelt BEGIN!

Did I say I wasn't going to discuss snow?  I digressed.  It's hard not to.  It's still February, after all.

But, I am here to talk about spring fever, which I have and it's right on time, and how I deal with it.  I have need of green and not just the green of my houseplants.  I need new green, new growth, that which can only come from starting seeds.  Some might say that it's too early for it.  I say they're wrong.  January is too early.  I started tomatoes one time in January and had fruit developing in March.  Much as I love home-grown tomatoes because the flavor usually runs circles around store-bought, my early crop was a little boring, or what I refer to as cardboardy, and I vowed never to let my spring fever control my gardener ways like that again.

Late February is still a little early to be starting veggies.  But herbs, now that's a different story.  If all you want is green, starting herbs now is the way to go.  It's all leaves, all green, all shiny and new, and it does a spring fevered heart good to see them pop through the surface of the soil and make their way into the world.

So, I headed toward my local produce store, where they always have their seed display out by January 1st each year.  They also have a greenhouse, where I'll go when I need a serious "fix" of exposure to flowers, herbs and developing vegetable plants.  I wandered up and down the rows of seeds, looking at the pictures on the packets and knowing damn well my plants were never going to look that good.  I had specific plans on herb seed starting - sage, rosemary, and thyme (no, silly – parsley is started later in the season).  Last year, I started sage, thyme and oregano, but I only got the oregano to winter over inside and it's gotten seriously scraggly looking - not enough sunlight, mostly.  But by the time the seeds get growing, there will be light aplenty.  So I plunked down my green paper (money) for five packets of spring fever remedy and headed home.

What I forgot in my glee of buying those seeds was the soil to start them.  Yeah, Lauren, something to grow them in.  Duh!  It's okay, I can wait two days to go get that.  Why not go tomorrow?  Because it's going to snow – again.

Only 27 days until Spring.

Countdown to Spring - I Take it Back (Sort of)

Okay, I am officially over February, over winter, over shoveling, etc. etc., etc.  After our 18" of dry fluffy snow, we had another 5" of slightly heavier snow last week.  We're expecting another 3-8" of snow tomorrow into Tuesday, with the possibility of ice on top of it all, followed on Thursday by snow and possibly freezing rain, with rain on Friday to make a lovely mess of it all.

If Mother Nature is trying to try my patience, it's working.  I know we've been fortunate in that, except for the 15" snowstorm in December, we didn't have anything until February.  I didn't have to sweep or shovel, didn't have to throw de-icer down until this month.  However, it seems to be making up for lost time in terms of the frequency and amounts we're getting and predicted to get, not to mention we're getting into the messier winter weather as the slightly warmer temperatures start to creep in.  I know, it's a seasonal process and one we go through, for better or worse, every year.  I understand it.  It doesn't mean I have to like it.

However, as I look out the window at bushes and trees, I see evidence of their awakening from their winter slumber in the form of leaf buds.  I also hear some of the birds doing some territorial singing as well.  Granted that they're year-round residents and will have to re-stake their claims once the migrating birds return.  But these little reminders of warmer, greener days to come are most welcome and will keep me going as I pitch said forecasted snow off my deck over the upcoming week.

Only 34 days until Spring.

Countdown to Spring - A Late Start

For those who still read my blog, you know I normally start this series on Groundhog's Day.  I did watch Punxsutawney Phil on 2/2, but was kind of busy shoveling out from the 18" of snow that fell on 2/1.  By the way, just because it's a light and fluffy snow doesn't make it any easier to clear off a second floor deck and walkway.  I am fortunate in that my neighbors came over to help clear the ridge of snow left by the plow and the area around my car, bless them.  I'm getting too old to be dealing with this stuff, yet love New York too much to consider relocating.

So, the groundhog did see his shadow on February 2, which means six more weeks of winter.  Was I surprised?  Not in the least.  Despite not wanting to deal in cold temperatures, snow, sleet and freezing rain, I know it's part of the process toward a normal spring.  The lack of normalcy of this past year due to the pandemic has given me an appreciation for normal seasonal weather and transitions.

Still, as I look out on falling snow again, which will be happening every other day for the next week, it makes me wonder about warmer climes and snow-free places, if only for a short while.

Only 41 days until Spring.