Our little microclimate

The last few days have been very warm and mostly sunny. Warmer than is normal for this time of year. Not summery, but highs in the upper 40s. It won’t last, but it has helped to melt the heaping mounds of snow. Except in my yard. The houses across the street receive the afternoon sun and their yards are now bare ground.

On my side of the street, the front yards receive a brief burst of morning sun. It’s not enough to melt snow. Obviously. I still have two foot mounds of the stuff out there and no signs of bare ground anywhere.

The other side of the street does spring a couple of weeks earlier than my side of the street. Their crocus and daffodils and tulips and azaleas bloom two to three weeks earlier than on my side of the street. It’s quite astonishing to see it. You wouldn’t think a mere 50-75 feet could bring such differences to a growing season. But it does.

I look at it this way...I get to enjoy a couple of extra weeks of spring. After their spring blooming is well under way (or over), my side of the street finally gets going. It’s a nice season extender.

Meanwhile, another storm is due to hit this weekend. This time all the snow is heading north and we will be deluged with heavy rains. And with the rains come the threats of flooding. Three or four inches of rain, on top of all the snow in my back yard, could lead to some difficulties in my basement. And you know, having so clearly hollered for spring to get here, I don’t think I have a thing to say about it if I do get a flood. Keeping fingers crossed, nonetheless.

Next up...mud season. I keep forgetting about that....