Spring is Here Today! (I saw a huge blue jay yesterday)

This has been an unusually harsh winter in New England - not because of a record snowfall but rather a succession of 4 winter storms in March causing widespread power outages and hardship. Everyone is waiting for the arrival of spring....

I know that spring is near when the days are longer and the sky is still bright at dinner times; I know that spring is near when I returned from Pittcon and sent in the final draft of the annual article for the April issue of LCGC; I know that spring is here when I see little girls in white dresses with colorful sashes; I know that spring is imminent when I mail in my tax return for the year.

I know that spring is near when the temperatures are getting away from the freezing point and the nor'easters only bring rains and breezes that are no longer biting. I know that spring is near when the furnace is no longer humming constantly and when there are more "For Sales" signs in the neighborhood.

I know that spring is near when the snow piles at the parking lots are shrinking and when I see little tiny buds from the rhododendrons and forsythias plants in the front yards.

I know that spring is here when I saw temperature reaching 59 F and I heard a cacophony of chirping and hooting sounds this sunny afternoon.

It's time to put away the winter boots and the humidifiers for the season. It's time to clean out the garage and repair the mail box. It's time to consider travel plans for the year.

I know that spring is here to stay when I see more than one red-breasted robins...

Postscript on 4/2/18 8 am Monday Morning snowing

Spoke too soon re the arrival of spring as I just got a surprise visit from Violet, dumping already 9" of snow this morning. I needed to dig out my boots this morning to go out and shovel the driveway. I think all the trees and flowering bushes are confused at this point on what to do next....I saw two robins foraging in my front yard at 5 pm this sunny afternoon. So it is offically spring. What a difference a few hours could make.

Postscript on 4/4/18 raining

Snow are now mostly gone and weather is still cold and damp with continuous rain or drizzle. I recalled in many previous years, the air con compressors was already humming by mid-April so the weather this year is a bit unusal. Tax due date is rapidly approaching so I needed to finish up the June installment of LCGC to allow time to file my much dreaded tax return.

Postscript on 4/5/18 9 am Sunny but cold at 30F

I saw a huge blue jay in the front yard yesterday so spring is truly here....however, we are expecting another winter storm Wilbur this Saturday with snow forecast at 1-3"...Good news as Wilbur took a northward turn and visited Quebec instead of us....so we don't have snow in our forecast anymore.

Postscript on 4/6/18 11 am snow shower and freezing rains, cold at 30F

A surprise this morning to see snow shower coming down hard at 11 am...No accumulation and it soon turns into freeze rain. Should become April showers soon. It is a confusing weather pattern.

Postscript on 4/7/18. cloudy in the 40s

Woke up to a cloud day and listening to the frequent bird calls. The temperture will be in the 40s this week and edging up to 50s next week. The air-con man will be here next Tuesday for the annual checkup. Normally, the air con was already on this time of the year but not this year.

Postscript on 4/23/18. 7 am 33 F

We have a late Spring this year. The forsynthia is finally blooming though the cherry tree still only have very tiny flower buds. The temperature this morning is still near freezing in CT though it is warming up quickly with a bright and sunny day ahead. Will get to 60F soon! Spring is finally here.