BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemisphere

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemispher
From: open mike
Date: 17 Feb 08 - 12:19 PM

In the California foothills, we still have patches of snow in the shady places. There are ladybugs here. They hibernate beneath the ground, and in clubs of vegetation. When the sun is warm they come out and fly around. It is a beautiful sight to see them crawling over fenceposts,
bushes and all. Watch your step! Fruit trees are in need of pruning, and so are roses. There was a gang of robins on the meadow yesterday. Or is it a herd? The star magnolia is blooming and the flower quince is pushing out a few bright buds. A humming bird is calling form the highest branch. I thought they were supposed to migrate away from here.
The bats are suppoed to, too. Now is when i should put up a bat house and close any openings in the rafters and eaves by my loft bedroom so they might nest a bit farther away from my "belfry".

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemisphere
From: Becca72
Date: 17 Feb 08 - 12:06 PM

Here in Maine we had the snowiest December since 1970. To put that into my perspective, I was born in 1972!

I'm glad we're halfway through February...there is light at the end of the tunnel, even if it is a ways away!

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemisphere
From: GUEST,Tunesmith
Date: 17 Feb 08 - 11:12 AM

I friend of mine, who lives in Sweden, says that, where she lives, winter starts a month later, and spring comes a month earlier, compared to when she was a child. Big problems are coming, and undoubledly - sooner than later - they'll hit us very hard !

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemisphere
From: Rumncoke
Date: 17 Feb 08 - 10:57 AM

Hello from the south coast of England.

What is this 'snow' of which you speak?

Are there truly outdoor temperatures of less than zero degrees Centigrade? I thought they were simply urban legends from the early days of freezer owning.

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemispher
From: artbrooks
Date: 17 Feb 08 - 10:00 AM

The sun is shining, the birds are singing. We have a small flock of sandhill cranes down by the river that didn't commute any further south than here. No flowers yet, though. Early sign of Spring: "Art, how about going out and turning over the garden".

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemisphere
From: gnu
Date: 17 Feb 08 - 07:25 AM

Yes, Bee. But, my books say they are not here during the winter.

-23C and -33WC (Windchill) this AM. Spring again tomorrow with +6C and a heavy rain warning issued.

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemispher
From: Greg B
Date: 16 Feb 08 - 11:18 PM

In Pennsylvania, we've been feeling smug because every serious
snow storm has diverted around us and clobbered either New England
or the South. Rained like hell. Mud. But cold has been accompanied
by clear skies.

We've had a couple of close run ones--- one in January which dumped
a bunch of icy slush on us. And one last week which turned the
roads into a mass of miniature ball-bearings. (I drove all the
way home in 4WD on ice tires, avoiding populated roads and
kind of enjoyed it, truth to be told, especially after I heard
about colleagues going 4MPH on the highways and I was going 40).

And some sort of ice-storm thing last December--- too far back
to remember.

Haven't got to run the snow-plow on the tractor since 2006-2007.

That's kind of a disappointment, because I like putting on my
'Carharts' and plowing out the road with a 50-year-old machine.

I figger with all this smugness, it has to end soon. Some Alberta
Clipper or Nor'easter is going to come ripping down on us in March
or early April and dump four feet in as many hours.

I've got the blade on the tractor, but haven't put the 85# each
side chains on, and the differential brakes are none too great,
so I'll have my proverbials down.

Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow, so supposedly it could happen.

Still, I found myself today planning our first kayak trip of the
season down the Neshaminy and realistically hoping for a 60F day
(we've had several in the last few weeks) to allow it to happen.
I was looking at the boats today, up on the sawhorses and gathering
dust in the shadows of the barn, and feeling that itch in the
pectorals.

If it's a sign of Spring, the crop of pot-holes is bumper this
year. Thank goodness for big 16-inch (ID) 32-inch (OD) tires on
steel rims. BOING! Oh, was that a New Beetle down there?

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemisphere
From: Bill D
Date: 16 Feb 08 - 11:06 PM

..both

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemisphere
From: Riginslinger
Date: 16 Feb 08 - 10:54 PM

I hear all of this talk about early spring, and then turn on the radio and hear about "global warming." At that point I wonder if I should be enjoying the weather, or nervous about he future.

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemisphere
From: Bee
Date: 16 Feb 08 - 05:37 PM

Gnu, dunno what birdbook you're using, but Cedar Waxwings have been here - Cape Breton and Nova Scotia, since me Mum was a kidlet, at least.

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemisphere
From: gnu
Date: 16 Feb 08 - 04:07 PM

Metch... why, told that you should have pruned earlier, of course. Wouldn't want to disturb any nesting robins or such, eh?

BTW, the Robin was great fun to watch. He was voraciously attacking one particular apple. When the Cedar Waxwings would get close, he was equally viscious with them. Poor little guy. I wish I had some worms to feed him. Of course, pickin worms might be a tad difficult at -13 with over 4 to 6 feet of snow and ice on the lawn.

BTW, BTW, I looked up Cedar Waxwings in four of my bird books and they are not here either. Maybe they read about the global warming and decided to check it out?

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemisphere
From: Bee
Date: 16 Feb 08 - 03:22 PM

Kat, the ones described as pics from a Finnish museum are what I do. I actually have seen them around Nova Scotia here and there, thought they looked neat, and learned how to build them at Ross Farm Museum in Nova Scotia. Mine tend to look quite iglooish, likely 'cause I'm not seven feet tall, and don't build them higher than I can easily reach the top of. From the notes in that forum, looks like they are called beehive woodpiles.

I've also seen them built with slabwood (mill ends, great cheap source of firewood and kindling)leaned on end, kind of shingle style.

The other wood pile style with the pole in the middle no doubt works great, but looks labour intensive, whereas the beehive is less work than stacking your wood in conventional rows, since you needn't stack the 'filling', just toss it in loose. I've actually seen one place where the woodpiler had built 'windows' into the sides of his beehive piles nearest the house, big enough to reach in and get quite a lot of wood out without disturbing the integrity of the pile.

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemispher
From: Metchosin
Date: 16 Feb 08 - 02:25 PM

I'm glad you've had a robin, gnu. You deserve one. No sign of Turdus migratorius here yet, but the varied thrushes have been busy stirring up the leaf litter.

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemisphere
From: gnu
Date: 16 Feb 08 - 02:11 PM

Well, well, well. I just took pics of a robin (and Cedar Waxwings) in my mum's apple tree. I imagine that robin must be upset at the travel agent!!!

Mum phoned me all excited and wanted me to rush right over because she wanted me to see that robin with my own eyes. There were reports on the radio that a robin had been seen in town... but nobody believed it.

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemispher
From: Metchosin
Date: 16 Feb 08 - 02:08 PM

Told what gnu?

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemisphere
From: gnu
Date: 16 Feb 08 - 11:04 AM

I don't mind boring. Better than in the -20'sC tonight and tomorrow night and up to +6C Monday. It's a beautiful suuny day here. -16C and -26WC (Wind Chill) right now.

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemisphere
From: Charley Noble
Date: 16 Feb 08 - 10:17 AM

zero, zero, zero

boring!

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemispher
From: katlaughing
Date: 16 Feb 08 - 12:42 AM

Bee, does THIS look like what you mean? I found it and several others over at THIS SPOT. Here're a couple more: clickety...OR, maybe it looks more like THIS ONE?

There are several more pix posted at that site. Pretty neat info, too.

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemisphere
From: gnu
Date: 15 Feb 08 - 09:03 PM

Metch.... have you been told yet today???!!!

Art... ditto my last... ditto, ditto, ditto, darnit!!!! Avec d'Amos dat guy la!!

Bee.... kewl!!!!!

Oh... we had winter, spring, and winter today.

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemispher
From: Metchosin
Date: 15 Feb 08 - 08:47 PM

Snowdrops are out on this part of the coast of BC. I had a couple of 'mums blooming in January too, but they did turn brown in the last freeze, three of weeks ago. I was planning on doing some pruning this weekend, but I think I'm a bit too late again this year. Should have done it at the beginning of January.

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemisphere
From: Bee
Date: 15 Feb 08 - 07:48 PM

Those of you digging firewood out of ice and snow, give a thought next season to piling it in beehive shape or haystack shape piles. I've failed to find a picture of it, so I'll try to describe. You lay a circle of firewood, maybe two metres across, more or less, depending on how much wood you have. Place another layer on top of that, neatly like brickwork. Once you've got a few rows laid that way, fire a bunch of wood in the centre. You can be neat about this or just throw it in. Now build up your circle wall some more, gradually easing the rows in to an igloo or beehive shape. Keep filling the centre until you finish the pile.

I've found, for wood that must be left outdoors, that shape of pile is easiest to deal with. You can put a little tarp on top if you like. When the pile gets snowed in and iced up, it's still fairly easy to break into the centre and get some nice dry wood.

Plus, they look really cool. ;-D

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemisphere
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 15 Feb 08 - 02:51 PM

From the weather described by many in this thread I can see why you haven't discovered the garden thread that has already been running for a couple of weeks. Go back to sleep and check back in about six weeks. Or 12, if you live near MMario. . .

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemispher
From: artbrooks
Date: 15 Feb 08 - 02:38 PM

We've had a couple of fires in the fireplace, just for fun. The cats like them. There is snow on the mountain - which is 3 miles east and 5000 feet (1500 meters) higher, and that is a good place for it. I think I'll go take a good book and a cuppa coffee out in the back yard and sit in the sun. Hey, gnu...there are a lot of places for sale around here. Wood stoves? Snow blowers? You can keep them! I think I'm the only person on the block who owns a snow shovel, and I've used it twice in 3 years.

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemispher
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 15 Feb 08 - 02:23 PM

In December, New Hampshire (US) had more snow than any year since 1876.

Not sure how January lined up, but it still seemed to be snowing about every three days, maybe alternating with snow turning to freezing rain (or freezing rain turning to snow).

Since the new metal addition in my left shoulder has given me the ability to predict the weather (as well as to verify what I can damned well see out the window!), I've been in pain for most of the past two weeks. And then the past couple days have been very cold (on top of the snow, then rain), which hasn't helped at all.

At least yesterday a neighbor came over with his front end loader and excavated some of the firewood for us. And another load comes tomorrow, which will make life a bit easier. Tarps over the woodpile only seem to help temporarily. Tom re-laid the tarp under the wood -- good thing, because there's water underneath that. Wood frozen together can be whacked apart. Wood frozen in the snow can be whacked out. Even wood frozen into the ice usually can be pounded out. But wood frozen into MUD -- it'll be there til June.

I think we might be getting too old to be heating primarily with wood. I think first house project after I can work again and have an income again might be duct work and thermostat for the furnace (which we have been using only as backup) .

At least the sun is out today!

Linn

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemisphere
From: Cats
Date: 15 Feb 08 - 10:35 AM

I have 2 lovely woodburners, one in my lounge and one in my dining room and I think I have probably only lit them 2 or 3 times this winter and that was just 'cos I fancied the real flame comforting thing! Our relatives in BC keep telling us about real snow and I love the stuff. There's nothing better than walking across open moors in a foot of snow. Sadly, I've never done it as we don't get real snow here. The odd snowflake a couple of times a year. There again, 4 years ago Bodmin Moor was cut off for 24 hours and people had to be rescued from their cars by helicopter. It just so happened I was in Birmingham at the time with not a cloud in the sky and thought Jon was lying when he said we had a foot of snow! By the time I got home it was nearly all gone.

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemisphere
From: Bee
Date: 15 Feb 08 - 10:24 AM

There was a lovely, safe, efficient Scandinavian 'egg' shape stove here when we bought the place, but it was pre-CSA certification, and therefore unacceptable to the insurance company. We bought an Osburn, has a catalytic burner, works very well, and the sides and back are never more than warm - all heat is directed out front and top.

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemisphere
From: Big Mick
Date: 15 Feb 08 - 10:04 AM

I have, perhaps, one of the great stoves ever! It is a Defiant Encore, made by Vermont Castings. I love this thing, it just puts out the nicest heat ever, is easy on wood. Every couple of years I do have to put in new gaskets and that can be a pain in ass, but other than that it is great. It has a catalytic element in it that really makes it more heat efficient.

Love it, but I want to give it a break. Come on, Springtime.....before I shoot a snowmobile.......the bastards have no respect for others property and solitude....

Mick

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemisphere
From: gnu
Date: 15 Feb 08 - 09:37 AM

Rags! It snows in Beautiful BC? How is the deck?

Bee & Maeve... I only have two cord and spring will come eventually. I'll get a new stove. Maybe around June.

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemispher
From: maeve
Date: 15 Feb 08 - 07:49 AM

Listen to Bee, gnu! Heck, Uncle Henry always has some gooduns. We could drive up and meet you halfway to deliver one if poor little NB is low on good stoves. Maine has a plentitude!

Otherwise I'll have to start sending more snow your way, hehehe.

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemispher
From: ragdall
Date: 15 Feb 08 - 01:03 AM

Left side of Canada, here.
Is this an early sign of Spring?
rags

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemispher
From: Janie
Date: 14 Feb 08 - 11:16 PM

Biggest snowfall of the year last night - 3/4 inch....Looked kinda pretty crowning the blooms on my earliest daffodils.

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemispher
From: Bee
Date: 14 Feb 08 - 09:30 PM

Cats, from here that's just...obscene! Cold water in front of a man dyin' in the desert... (Bee throws another damn log on the damn fire...)

GNU!!! Get a new stove! take it with you or sell it when you move. You can get safe wood stoves for not a lot of money, often free if you ask around. I do know that kind of stove, and I've seen the whole thing glowing cherry red and practically dancing on its little legs, just panting for a bit of clothing to brush it, or the cat to pass too close, or the dry old wall behind it to spontaneously combust.

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemisphere
From: Cats
Date: 14 Feb 08 - 04:33 PM

On tonights local news there was an article about the annual flower count at nearby Cothele House, a National Trust House and gardens. Today there were 141 different kinds of flowers in bloom, many up to six weeks early and a 76% increase on last years count. Seasons? What seasons?

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemisphere
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 14 Feb 08 - 04:29 PM

We've already exceeded our annual average snowfall locally, with warnings from "official sources" that we have a couple of months left and more is likely.

During the past couple of months, we've had at least a day or two each week of daytime high temps in the mid 50F (13C) range. Also during the same period, we've had at least a night or two each week of overnight lows close to 20F (-7C) or below. The pattern is predicted to continue.

There are small patches of "green stuff" visible in the lawn from my window, that sprouted during the last warm swing but that now is "green-dead" (frozen) from the pea-sized sleet that was laying on it yesterday.

"Mother nature" appears to be in a distinct "PMS" phase here, with intermittent "cold-shoulders" interspersed with "hot flashes." About the only notable birds have been bunches of unusually large blue-jays and occasional small cardinals, with the more usually numerous starlings, crows, and sparrows almost unseen.

John

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemisphere
From: Becca72
Date: 14 Feb 08 - 02:39 PM

I saw on the news the other day that we are already about 20" over the average amount for this time of year...I want the 40° weather from January back!

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemisphere
From: gnu
Date: 14 Feb 08 - 01:32 PM

Bee... I would burn the wood if I could but I shouldn't. Not yet. The old guy I bought this house from had one of them there Norwegian stoves (a three footer). Ya know the kind what when ya try ta move it the legs fall off? And there ain't no damper? And the door don't shut near tight? Yeah, that's the one.

Fact is, if the wind picks up, the flue pipe can easy glow red even when I got a fan on it! So, it goes through rock maple like (probably) your stove would go through bog spruce, unless the temp and wind are even. I would get a decent one, but I may have to move house soon, so.... my woodpile is just an emergency backup until March moon (21st or so?).

Hehehe... yup. March 21. That will be a good Friday.

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemispher
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 14 Feb 08 - 11:58 AM

Icicles are best attacked with swords. Forunately, we have a few around the house. And a fencing foil is the perfect tool to unclog a vacuum cleaner hose.

By the way, Tom and I cut our wedding cake (almost 26 years ago) with a 16th century main gauche.

Linn

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemisphere
From: Bryn Pugh
Date: 14 Feb 08 - 10:49 AM

We wouldn't wish to deprive you . . .

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemispher
From: topical tom
Date: 14 Feb 08 - 10:48 AM

Spring? No sign of it here in Quebec though, wonder of wonders, the sun is shining today!It's -7 C (19 F).We have loads of snow but the male and female cardinals visit every day.You folks in the UK and points south, why don't you come and enjoy non-Spring here with the rest of us poor schmucks?

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemispher
From: GUEST,Seiri Omaar
Date: 14 Feb 08 - 10:40 AM

Ottawa. Cold. -18 today.
At least there's sunshine.

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemisphere
From: The PA
Date: 14 Feb 08 - 10:33 AM

Worcestershire UK. Yep looking back maybe one or two falls of light snow, gone within 48 hours, occasional heavy rain, and a few really cold (-2) nights. All in all not too bad for 'winter'. Things can only get better - maybe?

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemispher
From: katlaughing
Date: 14 Feb 08 - 10:28 AM

Well, of course Nature had to prove I spoke too soon. (Or maybe it is the robins sang too soon?!) It is gloomy and overcast here with 100% chance of snow mixed with rain. That's okay, though, the ground is mostly bare and I know the green things need the moisture. Maybe instead of the Bananan Belt, I'll start calling it "little England"...we seem to have more in common weather-wise this time of year. We'd never measure up in moisture, though.:-)

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemisphere
From: Bee
Date: 14 Feb 08 - 10:01 AM

The ten cm.of snow we got a few days ago disappeared overnight in the rain. Our dirt road's a sheet of ice with water on top, the lake's got about 12cm. of water on top of ice. All the ATV and snowmobile lads are gloomy. S'posed to drop to -18 Saturday night. At least with the snow gone I can see the pitiful state of my gardens.

Aw, gnu - start burnin' that wood! We use around four cord most winters, and have been lucky most years getting half or more of it cheap or free.

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemispher
From: jacqui.c
Date: 14 Feb 08 - 08:20 AM

Same here Mick - nothing but white for what seems like months now. I know the spring flowers are there and waiting for a chance to bloom, but that won't be for a while yet I reckon.

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemisphere
From: Big Mick
Date: 14 Feb 08 - 07:43 AM

All youse layabouts need to come here to Michigan....you will quickly quit all yer moanin and bitchin.......I am sooooooooooooo ready for spring.

Mick

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemisphere
From: GUEST,The black belt caterpillar wrestler
Date: 14 Feb 08 - 07:41 AM

In Lancaster (UK) we had daffodils, crocus, snowdrops, primroses and a couple of others (I'm not a gardener, just know the brown end goes in the earth) out on 26th January. Also had a flock of long-tailed tits come past that day.

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemispher
From: maeve
Date: 14 Feb 08 - 07:33 AM

I think it's now daylight, but can't be certain. TL is out with the snowblower, trying to keep our snow banking in place. The window is covered with wet, sticky snow.

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemisphere
From: Anne Lister
Date: 14 Feb 08 - 07:30 AM

Here on a hill (almost a mountain) in South Wales my daffs are in bud, the croci (crocussessess?) are flowering, there are buds on the trees and the grass is looking very sprightly and making my husband mutter darkly about the mower. We've had quite a few frosty mornings recently and some glorious warm sunny days but I gather we're in for some colder weather again now.

Anne

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemisphere
From: John J
Date: 14 Feb 08 - 06:55 AM

Don't mention tits to LTS, she has a thing about them.

JJ

Subject: RE: BS: Early Signs of Spring - northern hemisphere
From: Bryn Pugh
Date: 14 Feb 08 - 06:29 AM

Here in Northamptonshire (UK) daffodils are in flower bud, crocussusses (croci ?) are in full bloom and having seven bells knocked out of them by marauding birds ; snowdrops are on the second flowering.

Primulas are in flower, as are cultivated primmy-roses.

Goosegrass is growing like the clappers, and, getting off the bus this morning, I saw a red dead-nettle in flower. Forsythia is in bloom, too.

Chaffinch, Robin, Mizzle thrush and Blackbird are singing ; Jinny Wren is twittering; Blue Tit, Coal Tit and Great Tit have on their courting gear (mating plumage).

A neighbour from where we used to live tells me the Natterjack ponds in the slacks are stirring.