Groundhog Day
Today when Phil was lifted from his cozy burrow and held up in front of a huge crowd early in the morning, in 10 degree, cloudy weather, he did not see his shadow, so he predicted an early Spring.
Doesn't make much sense to me, for any woodchuck (groundhog)
I ever knew would #1 not come out of that warm nest when it was still so dark and cold, and #2 would not be thinking Spring under those circumstances.
But it is a tradition of long-standing, very cute, popular and fun.
I understand he has not been very accurate in the past.
Had his den been here in Virginia this morning he would most certainly have seen his shadow. He could have stretched out in sunshine under clear blue skies and basked in the 60 degree
weather. Of course there is no doubt he would have seen his shadow, but would he have cared? I even saw a few dandelions,
a favorite food of woodchucks, blooming today and lots of short,
delectable greens.
Phil wasn't in Virginia. So I presume he was expected to stay out of that burrow in Pennsylvania to welcome the anticipated early arrival of Spring.
The plants here are already thinking Spring. That is not a good thing. I have 8 crocus blooming--bright little yellow blossoms dancing across the front of my porch. Also the daffodils have three large buds. I fear they will never reach their potential, for though the forecast is for unseasonably warm weather through the coming week, it is just the start of February. February has been known to deliver some nasty wintry stuff to this part of the South.
The unusual early warmth is causing many plants and trees to be
setting on buds far too early. This is a real concern for orchards.
Whereas a flower may lose it's early buds and make new ones later on at a more acceptable time, fruit trees cannot do this. One chance each year to set flowers out to be pollinated and form fruits is all they get. Too early and the buds or tiny just-forming fruits
will die in a freeze, and the season's crop will be lost.
So I guess I have to hope Phil has got it right, that Spring is on the doorstep, since it seems to have already begun.
Doesn't make much sense to me, for any woodchuck (groundhog)
I ever knew would #1 not come out of that warm nest when it was still so dark and cold, and #2 would not be thinking Spring under those circumstances.
But it is a tradition of long-standing, very cute, popular and fun.
I understand he has not been very accurate in the past.
Had his den been here in Virginia this morning he would most certainly have seen his shadow. He could have stretched out in sunshine under clear blue skies and basked in the 60 degree
weather. Of course there is no doubt he would have seen his shadow, but would he have cared? I even saw a few dandelions,
a favorite food of woodchucks, blooming today and lots of short,
delectable greens.
Phil wasn't in Virginia. So I presume he was expected to stay out of that burrow in Pennsylvania to welcome the anticipated early arrival of Spring.
The plants here are already thinking Spring. That is not a good thing. I have 8 crocus blooming--bright little yellow blossoms dancing across the front of my porch. Also the daffodils have three large buds. I fear they will never reach their potential, for though the forecast is for unseasonably warm weather through the coming week, it is just the start of February. February has been known to deliver some nasty wintry stuff to this part of the South.
The unusual early warmth is causing many plants and trees to be
setting on buds far too early. This is a real concern for orchards.
Whereas a flower may lose it's early buds and make new ones later on at a more acceptable time, fruit trees cannot do this. One chance each year to set flowers out to be pollinated and form fruits is all they get. Too early and the buds or tiny just-forming fruits
will die in a freeze, and the season's crop will be lost.
So I guess I have to hope Phil has got it right, that Spring is on the doorstep, since it seems to have already begun.
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