au revoir, Winter

Today is the last day of the Winter season of 2020 -- 2021. We are not sorry to see it go, especially after the mid-February visit from a polar vortex. However, before we get too terribly excited about enjoying Spring in our North Country, let us remind you that the average last frost date for our area is mid-May, although hardy vegetables and the like may be planted as early as April, according to the Old Farmer's Almanac. We also remind you that early April can bring noteworthy snowfall as pictured below from 2014.

early "Spring" snowfall

Photo by J. Harrington

So, despite what the calendar tells us, Winter will return next December 1 for meteorologists, on Winter solstice for the rest of us, and almost anytime between now and then, depending on Mother Nature's whimsy. With a little luck, we should get to enjoy at least a few warm, sunny days between now and next Winter.

is mid-April too early to emerge?

Photo by J. Harrington

As we reviewed some photos of past years' waterfowl migrations, we convinced ourselves that the main body of the Northern migration probably hasn't reached us yet. At least we have some pictures of lots more swans, geese and ducks than are evident at the moment. In part, we suspect that's because many of even the smaller ponds, and about all of the larger lakes, are still ice covered. That limits the ability of waterfowl to spread out and claim nesting places. Next week's warmer days and rainfall should help open the local surface waters although the median ice out date for Forest Lake is April 9.

Putting in the Seed

Robert Frost - 1874-1963

You come to fetch me from my work to-night 
When supper's on the table, and we'll see 
If I can leave off burying the white 
Soft petals fallen from the apple tree. 
(Soft petals, yes, but not so barren quite, 
Mingled with these, smooth bean and wrinkled pea;) 
And go along with you ere you lose sight 
Of what you came for and become like me, 
Slave to a springtime passion for the earth. 
How Love burns through the Putting in the Seed 
On through the watching for that early birth 
When, just as the soil tarnishes with weed, 
The sturdy seedling with arched body comes 
Shouldering its way and shedding the earth crumbs.

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