End of season weather

It’s been snowing since mid-morning. Tomorrow we may get to see what six+ inches of snow looks like when it gets rained on. I’m pondering whether we might get away with the “Mother Nature left it, let her clean it up!” approach. By mid-week we should be back to daytime high temperatures in the forties and yesterdays sunshine melted much of the snow from Thursday night.

waterfowl arrived just before the storms

Photo by J. Harrington

End of season snow storms present more complex challenges than those we get in December, January and February when, most years, we can expect to get more snow before spring thaw arrives and, if we hope to get out of the garage, we need to clear the driveway. If the snow is likely to mostly disappear over the next day or two, and it’s already officially spring, why bother with snow blowing in the middle of a rain storm? Tune in tomorrow or Tuesday to learn what we decided and how Mother Nature responded.

Meanwhile, I’m picturing a number of waterfowl pairs, especially Canada geese and mallard ducks, where the hen is quacking or honking “I told you it was to early to head North. There’s no way I’m going to build a nest in this stuff. Egg laying will just have to wait until this melts.” At least the prospects for the Easter Bunny hiding eggs in the grass instead of snowbanks look good.

Audubon Warblers

By Kevin L. Cole

The Audubon warblers keep the time of their coming,

Arriving on stillness of a storm,

Their breast and backs as dark as low bruised banks of cloud,

Rumps and throats as yellow as blooms of buckwheat.

 

They throng this evening in the newly-leaved

Tender-tipped canopies nervously weaving

Through the catkins like frantic prophets

Bearing some divine prophecy of the coming spring.

 

I wait, hoping for nothing too grave:

News of ruinous lands, of cutting and swarming locusts,

Of withering vines and empty granaries,

Of fasting, weeping, and rending of garments.

 

No, I wait for lighter fare:

Perhaps a promise that the green heron will nest

On the west end of the slough and that the ironweed

And wood lily will once again together bloom.

 

This would be an ample prophecy for another year—

This and a promise to keep the time of their coming.

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