Little did I know how completely ludicrous that photo of the dogs playing in snow would look just a couple of weeks later. Here I am with the windows open to try to entice a breeze to sweep the heat of the day out of the house. My skin is itchy from dried salt-- my evening walk had me sweating like a work horse. Everyone's commenting on the lovely weather, and sure, I'm loving it. But at the same time, it terrifies me...it's been hovering in the high 70's and even over 80 a time or two...this is APRIL(!?!) The apple trees have opened their leaf buds and are quickly developing flower buds. The quince (japonica) will open by the weekend, the jonquils are in full glory, even the lilac looks like it'll bloom while I'm gone.
When we moved here from New Jersey, on Memorial Day weekend 1984, at first glance I thought there had been a horrible insect blight because the trees had no leaves. So, a quarter century ago, trees were at approximately the stage at the end of May that they are now at the beginning of April. That's nearly two-months' difference over the course of a geological nano-second! I've been reading the stats as spring arrives earlier and earlier, but I don't think the official proclamations match the on-the-ground reality of the abrupt climate change being wrought. I wish I could stop thinking of implications and just enjoy the rapturous wonder that is spring.
And spring on my hilltop truly is rapturous. Even in a normal spring, one dominated by Mud Season, one can't help joining the rabbits in their maddened "March Hare" dances...squirrels spiral up oaks, the horses donate their winter cloaks to the birds who frantically weave it into their nests, and Beth and the dogs go gamboling through the woods. OK, the dogs gambol. I trudge, but with much lighter step than usual. Tonight I counted seventeen turkeys, four kingfishers, two wood ducks, as-yet unidentified geese that made intriguing whistling sounds, and myriad cardinals, robins, wood thrush, chickadees, juncos, blue jays...and their calls were capped by the ear-drum piercing, brain-mush-inducing shrill of spring peepers calling from every wetland.
Tomorrow, back to hauling manure to my garden. The sprouts are ready to transplant, and I have potatoes to set.
They reported on the New York news this morning that this is THE earliest it have ever reached 90 in NYC...it is totally bizarre! The ac is cranking in the classroom...2 of my 4 walls are large windows! Tomorrow should see a return to normalcy...but what if get a big frost after the blooms are out?? And this hot weather does not go well with my pansies on the deck...heads dancing in the breeze! Winter....Summer....THAT"S IT!!
ReplyDeleteI heard the peeper frogs and saw the azaleas in full bloom and thought to myself, jeez they are early, it's the being of April!
ReplyDeleteWhile it is lovely, it is also disconcerting.
This is an interesting thing I read recently about how helping other species is a matter of our own self-interest:
http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2010/04/bats-fight-climate-change/