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Found this lost baby goundhog sitting on a road.
Dawn Johnson
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How do you foretell the coming of spring?
To me, birds are one of the best predictors. There is a weather proverb that states, "Bluebirds are a sign of spring; warm weather and gentle south breezes they bring," and this appears to be true in the northern tier of the United States. Bluebirds do not come north until all chance of winter has passed and they are assured an ample food supply.
Groundhog Day and Candlemas Day (February 2) start getting many of us thinking about spring. After all, it's the astronomical midpoint between the winter solstice and the spring equinox—and a day that has a long tradition in weather folklore. (According to researchers, however, the groundhog has accurately predicted the coming of spring only 39 percent of the time.)
In my state of New Hampshire, we also know spring is coming when the maple trees are starting to run. The first to notice seem to be the squirrels who start poking around the trees looking for oozing sap.
On a personal level, I know when spring is coming because I start feeling the bumps and holes on my own country driveway; the snow nicely covers and smooths out our road in winter!
Some of our readers also have practical advice. Winter will end shortly after…
- you are inside your warm home and you hear the sound of icicles crashing from the gutters and roofs to the ground below,
- whenever you feel motivated to peel off the 3M plastic you so meticulously taped and blow dried tight to your windows!
- when your mailbox stops getting knocked over by the plow,
- when the kids lose a mitten and you don't bother to replace it,
- and the first time you can drive with you car window down - best feeling ever!
One of our favorite pieces of advice that we’ve received for predicting the weather is as follows:
Go to the back door and look for the dog.
If the dog is at the door and he is wet, it’s probably raining
But if the dog is standing there really soaking wet, it’s probably raining hard.
If the dog’s fur looks like it’s been rubbed the wrong way, it’s probably windy.
If the dog has snow on its back, it’s probably snowing.
The instructions we were sent go on to say…
Of course, to be able to predict the weather like this, you have to leave the dog outside all the time, especially if you expect bad weather.
Signed, sincerely, the cat
What signs of spring do you see? We'd love to hear! To comment, just type into the field below. Note that you must be a registered user. (Registration is free.)
I live in Colorado.
I live in Colorado. Unfotunately, I'm also in the Projects. This doesn't leave me with much opportunity on reveling in the natural world but even here with one small birdfeeder I have noticed many new bird songs each morning. Last week the Grackles and Magpies returned and this morning my son spotted a Robin. Yeah! Spring!
In West Virginia when the
In West Virginia when the red-winged blackbird arrives it is a sign that spring is coming!
The first sign of spring is
The first sign of spring is the return of the Killdeer. And when I see nightcrawlers on the road in the early morning, I know the ground is thawed out.
I love the first green shoots
I love the first green shoots of the crocus, Although I am confused by the robins this year, I moved 50 miles south of where I was and the robins are here already for the past week. I live in southern maryland.
I use many local
I use many local spring-is-coming indicators but what I mainly love as a "pre-spring" reminder is the beautiful yellow winterflowers of my witch hazel (hamamelis mollis) as its yellow forsythia looking flowers contrast vividly against the snow. The seed cases of witch hazel actually explode in the fall ejecting seeds as far as 10 feet! I've always wanted to film such an event or at least spread a blanket nearby and lazily await their dispersal. Witchhazel is still used to produce a natural astringent and water finding divining rods. It certainly tells me where I stand reminding me that spring is just around the corner!
It is NEVER going to be
It is NEVER going to be spring. I've had it with the snow/wind/blizzards!
What's that old yarn--if the
What's that old yarn--if the groundhog saw his shadow, spring's in 6 weeks; if he didn't, spring's on the 20th of March? Keep that in mind! Spring IS coming.
Spring to me is when the
Spring to me is when the tiniest tree buds show across from us on the Kentucky Rivers flooded banks. I love when the first of my crocous peek up from winters sleep. I espeacially love when we have some snow. I have to admit my bones are not at all happy for that show though. I have to agree with another (Linda I think), about the peepers as well. Their song is music to my ears and makes me listen for the crickets longingly. The birds songs change to a happier tone. "My" wrens are FUSSIER when my cat Mei-Sha' is out. YES, YES,with out a DOUBT spring, SPRING indeed is near.
Here in the Pacific North
Here in the Pacific North West (Vancouver Island) we generally wait for the hummingbirds to arrive, which is just around the time the salmon berry bushes start to bloom. But I like watching my yellow crocus pop up the first week in February - the first hit of yellow!
When I can't stay in the
When I can't stay in the house anymore. The air will smell fresh and feel so nice.
I live in Kansas and we will have a nice spell and then turn cold again. I know for sure it is soon to come. I start to get things ready for planting and worry that my peach blossoms will freeze again.