Although it doesn’t quite feel like it all the time just yet, we have seen some glimpses of spring temperatures sneak into the weather these last two weeks. The crocuses have already come and gone, the daffodils are starting to bloom, and the flowering cherry trees in front of my house are just about at their peak perfection, which is always a sign that the weather has turned. Soon, the redbuds will appear, along with magnolias and Bradford pears (which…
No real topic today – just some screaming into the air for some much-needed therapy: <Exhale> Thanks for that. I feel much better.
Sure, we have a few more weeks left of Ol’ Man Winter, but this past week, the temps finally broke out of the nightly teens and daytime highs hit the 50’s for a few days. That means it’s time for the annual yard clean-up. Now, if you’ve read past blogs, you know that I like yard work about as much as I like passing a kidney stone or suffering through a bout of shingles, but surprisingly – this year it’s…
For those of you who don’t keep up with current events, you read that title right. Next Sunday, March 10th, it’s time once again to participate in this national game we call “Daylight Savings Time”, in which we will collectively move our clocks ahead by one hour to somehow believe we are taking advantage of the earth’s tilt and rotation, gaining an additional hour of daylight each day. Madness. Honestly, people – just pick a lane and stay with it. …
Ahhh, the summer garden. Who doesn’t love the thought of walking out of their back door and picking some ripe, juicy tomatoes, tender lettuces, or snipping off some fresh herbs to be used in that favorite kitchen recipe? Well, hold on there a minute, all you Gordon Ramsey wannabes. First things first. If you want to reap all of those delicious rewards, there’s a little sweat equity involved to get there. I’m not saying that having a small garden is…
The local weather forecast is filled with rain for the next week, and while some folks may dislike the seemingly day after day of wet weather, I for one embrace it – for a number of reasons. First off, there’s my garden. I plant a few raised beds every year, and the daily dose of liquid sunshine keeps me from having to manually water in my seedlings and young plants. At this time of year, they will take all the…
Well, spring “officially” made its annual appearance this past week, but let’s not kid ourselves. We’ve had a VERY mild winter this year locally, and judging by my flowering cherry trees (which have already bloomed and faded), the landscape has been in full-on regeneration mode for several weeks already. If this keeps up, old “Punxsutawney Phil” will be greeted by crocuses and daffodils next year on Groundhog Day. I’m sure the local ski resort took a financial beating this year,…
As another spring quickly approaches, there’s one annual arrival that seems to becoming less and less reliable as the seasons pass. For example, my flowering cherry trees are blooming early this year due to the mild winter, and so far, they are missing one essential component that heralds the arrival of another growing season. I’m talking about bees. Although they strike fear into the heart of young children, teenage girls, and some older men (I’ve seen fellows my age breathlessly…
Spring is making its presence known here locally more and more each week, as my flowering cherry trees are in full bloom, the forsythia bushes are beaming bright yellow, and the red-bud trees and magnolias are coming into flower. Part of the seasonal cycle in my neck of the woods is the opportunity to go foraging for wild plants to add to the dinner table. Now, before you go saying “what in the world is he doing out there in…
Well, we just spent another weekend changing clocks and grumbling about lost sleep last week, but we’re once again on Daylight Savings Time for 2022. Collectively (and by law), we’ve all decided that what was once 6:00 PM just two weeks ago is now 7:00 PM. Woo. Hoo. Honestly, other than now traveling to work in the dark (instead of the rising sun blinding me as I drive eastward) and having some additional time to prep my raised garden beds…