Spring has come early this year. The snow has melted at an alarming rate it seems, but there is still some in shaded areas and on north-facing slopes.
After a run of beautiful, warm, sunny days, this morning has dawned a bit overcast, but bright, and there is rain in the forecast. The temperatures have not dropped below freezing at night for a few days, and the maple sap run has dribbled to a stop. Hopefully there are more crisp nights in the near future, otherwise this year's maple syrup season will not be very successful.
The robins have gone from 'quit-quit-quit-quit' ing, to 'Cheeri-up cheer-i-o' ing this morning, and are chasing each other around. Overnight there have been many deer 'waltzing' up the hill, dispersing from the winter yard, their tracks poked sharply in the soft surface of the road.
In 2018, the year that winter came back, the deer were up here on April 3 and the yard now, looks pretty much as it did then, but this year, only the snow in the immediate foreground remains.
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| April 3, 2018 Deer grazing |
On April 17, 2018, this is what we awoke to.
The deer vamoosed and we were packing snowshoe trails again!
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| April 18, 2018 |
So, we are not holding our breath. Spring is here, but it may be a while until we can count on consistent temperatures and no more snow!
As per the title of your previous post, March IS madness for those of us living in the north country! Sorry to say that even with our early seeming spring weather, we've had very few birds visiting us. Only chickadees and nuthatches with an occasional crow or raven soaring overhead. Our deer stay around all winter and I'm sure they've been happy with the low amount of snow this past season because that makes it so much easier for them to get around. Spring? Maybe, just maybe, after this crazy month of March is done!
ReplyDeleteIt is crazy. I'm sure there is a big 'slap down' coming from Mother Nature! This is our fourth spring up here, and every one is different. Its an adventure we are enjoying!
DeleteIt seems that March can always bring surprises to either extent. Glad you are seeing signs of spring! :)
ReplyDeleteEnjoying every day as it comes! Expecting the early spring migrant birds any day.
DeleteI never totally relax until after mid-April. There have been too many 'surprise' snow storms in early April.
ReplyDeleteThe weather report says a "Potent spring storm" is on the way for tomorrow. "Rain, snow and winds". Shopping trip today, (first in 3 weeks}, then batten down the hatches tomorrow! (Potent is not a word in their usual lexicon!)
DeleteI hope we aren't going to have a drought year like 2012. We were up and down the county yesterday. Water levels are high but nowhere near flood levels.
ReplyDeleteThey let RL down a lot last fall to prevent flooding this spring. The end of July and all of August 2019 were pretty much drought here. We have to go to Ottawa for an appointment next Wednesday, so looking forward to a bit of a tour then.
DeleteLots of snow...I love it but so glad it was you even in 2018. I say that but I was hoping for a good snow here in Nashville Tn and I got 3.5 inches. But that does not happen but maybe every five yrs or so. Its pretty though.
ReplyDeleteThanks for dropping by, Pam. We moved north for the winters, but now that the snow is melting, I'm getting a little antsy to get growing, although it is still too soon.
DeleteCurious about the deer near your driveway. Do they always come that close to your house? We are hoping this weeks cold front is the last of the freezing temps... cross fingers... the garden is calling!
ReplyDeleteThe deer go to yards in the late fall, early winter, once the snow is about a foot deep. They congregate there in large numbers and keep trails packed through the snow to food sources, (usually eastern white cedar and hemlock, in this area), and there is protection in numbers from predators. (wolves and coyotes) Now, once the snow starts to go, they head back to their summer ranges, but food is still scarce and they are looking for any green thing to eat. In our expanse of yard are tiny green grass shoots coming up, and they graze evening and morning here for a week or two until other food becomes available in the bush as spring advances. They are quite flighty and we have to sneak to get pictures, usually through the windows. Only a few local deer actually stay around here for the summer, and thankfully, we rarely see them in the yard or my gardens would be in peril! The deer coming back is a spring thing here, and we always look forward to it.
DeleteMy fella posted photos of him blowing snow with the big tractor blower at the end of March 2018. Lets keep our fingers crossed!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful today, but that wind is biting!
DeleteWhen I lived in Quebec, I expected snow until May, no matter how much spring teased me in April! But here in NB, the snow is GONE...rain has replaced snow and I'm so thankful!
ReplyDeleteThis is a really early spring this year. I'm not holding my breath that we are done with snow, but the trees all think so, as buds are swelling!
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