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Upstate New York

The Real First Sign(s) of Spring 2007

17 years ago

Hi All!

Realizing a few don't always stray south, a week ago Friday 3/2 I had a pair of Robins in our backyard. The following day, Saturday, my wife and I saw a Turkey Vulture soaring as we were driving to some friends. I thought this sight much more unusual for Central New York especially with below zero temps still in the forecast for this neck of the woods.

And although I raised pigeons as a kid well over 50 years ago just the other day and for the first time ever, I saw a pair of Morning Doves mating on a neighbors rooftop. Even with all of the snow on the ground the signs of Spring were beginning to come to life.

Then yesterday 3/12 I went for a ride and walk with my son to see if there was any open water or possibly to wonder how long it would be before the ice would melt on a favorite fishing spot. Surprisingly and even with the below zero temps of this past week there were indeed a few open spots. As stood thinking how long it would be before we could cast a line my son said, "Look! A mosquito."

But on the way back to the car we found out that what we saw wasn't a mosquito at all. As we walked with occasional stops we noticed the insect we thought was a mosquito was crawling over one foot of hard packed snow and ice and numbered in the hundreds. It was then we knew it was a (trout) hatch of Midge Fly's.

Although the Sun was out and breaking through the clouds it was still a little on the cool side. Even then with the temps in the 30's I still had my insulted jacket zipped against the breeze and thought isn't nature amazing? Here, we complain of the cold and snow and these little creatures can survive the elements so that other creatures can live, fish and birds alike, and some of those other creatures includes us, up at the top of the chain.

But today for me came the first real sign of Spring came at 07:25 AM. It was a flock of Redwing's and Grackles that numbered in about 100 or more. So Spring is almost here. All we need now is the warmer temps to melt away the rest of the snow and ice and hopefully not to quickly.

Comments (5)

gottagarden
17 years ago
Yesterday I saw a flock of geese flying overhead.

Today I saw another one. That MUST be spring!
laurelin
17 years ago
Yesterday I saw THOUSANDS of geese flying north, great skeins of a hundred and more at a time cruising at full speed and honking all the way. It was truly magnificent. And to make the day complete, I saw the first crocuses of the year open in my front yard. SPRING!!

Laurel
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Just an update. This experience is turning out to be an extremely good overseas import so far. After almost month and half inside in the unheated garage potted up - including having to cover them up for a week due to -14C weather where some lost their first set of leaves to freezing "inside" - I've only lost 5 out of the ~ 105 delivered that failed to break dormancy (canes shriveled). The potting up is turning out to have been a smart move also with the long delayed plant due to weather because they been allowed to become soil based for 6 weeks instead of soaking. Of course I lost one car space in the garage to my DW slight annoyance - my car stays in, it is newer ... hahahaha. The Geschwinds have broke - except Geschwind's Schonste and it looks dead. The one I was zeroing on, Ariana, has been very vigorous (got planted outside yesterday). Planted it in the south bay plot just in case it does behave like a noisette and not like a Harisonii for hardiness. I dosed nearly half with mychrozial fungus (forgot the first half until I remember I bought the stuff in winter). Next week is the big plant with the Pickering's and the Skinner and Erskine roses special order coming this week. Yeah the pain and ecstasy starts again ... bring it on!!!! Of course November sucks as we do it all in reverse again.
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We're two weeks from spring here in the central valley in Cal. Our early blooming trees (plums, apricotts, almonds...etc) begin blooming in mid Jan. Its quite a sight to see hundreds of thousands of fruit orchards blooming at the same time. My one lilac is about to leaf out and my citrus are putting out new growth and flower buds. I was out today doing some yard work and the weather was perfect (60 for a high and 40 for a low). lets just hope that we dont get another freak arctic blast like we did last January.
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I agree they are BEAUTIFUL, yesterday I was out side surveying my poor dead plants and ready to jank off all the dead stuff, instead I opted for triming the dead stuff and I was nicely surprised, my yellow Brug she is coming BACK! so are some of my geraniums my pony tail palm well she is DEAD so are most of my cactus, my purple wisteria is trying to to bloom the purple passion vine is also coming back I lost quite a few plants but as of today I am not janking out anything that looks dead who knows with this rain I just might have more survivors!! Marcie
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Hi All! The seemingly narrow path we took from Hooti's Jan 8th post of "The First Signs of Spring" (at Walmart) have finally widened. From our counting Week's and Day's 'til Spring it's now just Hours and Minutes away. It is the prelude to awakening and the eventual peeping of life and of what's to come from the soil we all love upon Spring's arrival. Let's hope that we continue to have nice weather in CNY as the snow is melting away and that by April 1st, which is ONLY 11 DAYS AWAY, our blanket of snow will be gone from our Garden's and Yards. Then, like Hooti, when we drive to Wally Worlds Garden Store (or our local Nurseries) we will only see the snow banks that are left in the parking lots. For us it will be the final closure to the Winter of 2004-05. Have a great Spring Season. Jim
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hammerl
17 years ago
Well, I've seen geese the past few days... but today I hit the triple-header (comes from being able to work with a window for a change, perhaps):

snowdrops are blooming away, the grackles are here, and my first robin in a very long time made an appearance and broke into song.

Unfortunately, the snow melt revealed I've got moles or voles in my front bed, home to columbine, astilbe, crocus, tulips, hyacinths, coral bells, and some jacob's ladder. ARGH!
penny1947
17 years ago
with the bulbs in that bed, I am going to guess it is voles.

Penny
penny1947
17 years ago
I just walked around the yard what I could get to anyway without sinking...things are popping!
Daylilies,
Agastaches
Crocosmia
Tulips
Daffs
Irises
and some other stuff I can't recall what it is. Oh and snapdragons are still green!

Penny

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