This morning, I watched these robins ruffle their feathers to keep the snow from accumulating. Poor birds…
In March of 2013, a cycle started with snowstorms arriving every Monday. Mother Nature must be on steroids because this has continued for seven weeks!
This is last year’s post comparing April of 2011 to 2012.
A Heatwave Cometh Early
April 13th, 2011
A lot has been written about global warming and it has become a hot political issue. Pun intended. Regardless of your stand on whether it exists, it has been a warm spring here in Boulder, Colorado. Last year there was so much snow in the mountains, we worried about flooding. This year it was warm and dry. Snow totals are 39% to 49% of normal.
March 23, 2012
This is the first year my wisteria has bloomed. I am amazed that it has survived our harsh winters here over the last 10 years. This is Colorado not California for God’s sake. I love it!
I am kinda digging this warm spring.
April 24th, 2012
Temperatures reached a very hot 88 degrees today and it feels more like June 24th than April 24th.
I have already battled ants this season. The miller moths that usually migrate in the millions at the end of May became the next unwelcome early arrival. I can hear them flapping their wings in the night above our bed. They are one month early and they never knock before coming into the house…So rude!
This foreshortened photo of my legs is really weird and so attractive!
In April 2011, we had a seasonal snowstorm that set back the spring foliage and nipped our fruit trees. The pruned die-back on the rose bushes filled a humongous trash can.
April 24th, 2012 – There is very little die-back and that will save me soooo much time!
April 13th, 2011
An icy garden
April 2011
April 24th, 2012
These are the last of the tulips in 2012 and it isn’t even May!
Last year in April the snow slowed down the tulips and this year they have already bloomed!
This year our spring is so summer-like.
Last year was like an ice age. What a difference!
Lilacs are in full bloom on April 24th, 2012. I have similar photos from last year in the middle of May!
We are not out of the woods for freezing temperatures until May 15th, but if we continue with this warm weather, we will have amazing fruit this year!
I have already made fresh rhubarb pie and the raspberries are about to bloom.
Raspberry rhubarb pie. Yum!
This is the end of a very lean ski season.
Avoiding the rocks.
Climbing them instead!
If it does threaten to freeze, I will be the crazy lady in the yard protecting everything with sheets like a Hampton’s homeowner covering furniture at the end of summer.
It is a good thing that weather isn’t like a bell curve or we would hit temperatures in the 140’s in July. It is supposed to chill out at the end of this week, but I have lost my faith in weather forecasters.
In the meantime, I will take advantage of the nice weather!
~~~~~
April 2013? Not so much.
We’ve had over 40 inches of snow this April and it ain’t over yet! Last week’s snow melted over the weekend. Another 8 inches fell overnight and it is still snowing…
Scientists are scrambling to make sense of the strange weather. A press release from CU-Boulder yesterday, announced findings that climate zones will shift faster as climate warms. This was the result of a joint research project conducted by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and CU.
All I know is every inch of moisture is welcome respite after a long dry winter. We won’t have any forest fires as long as snow is on the ground.
Breckenridge and Vail Ski Resorts reopened for three days last weekend due to the enormous snow totals. Maybe ski areas should start opening in December and close in June!
Do you think we’ll ever be able to work in our gardens here in Boulder?
Will Harry ever regain the respect of his flock?
All photos by Susie Lindau
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Nice post politely illustrating a very real problem, Susie. The snow season is over out here, but spring has not been around much. It was so chilly today the heat came up in my building. Weather has been so wacky. Climate change is as real as death taxes and middle age weight gain — but the last seems to elude you. I suppose skiing, hiking and playing tennis also help.
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I never want to be too political, but I did see that article in our paper and it inspired looking up last year’s photo blog. Now they are predicting 70’s on Sunday! Just in time for an outdoor tennis match on
Monday. I am crossing my fingers….
I gained the classic freshman 15 and then 15 after college. I lost all of it with by biking to work and by working out at a fitness club back in the 80s. Now fear keeps me from putting it back on. If I could just figure out to use fear as a motivator to get all the honeydo list stuff done, I would be in reeeally great shape!!!!
Thanks V!!!
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I love the nature around your home. Beautiful. How do you put the comments on your photo–I really like that.
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Thank you! It is a lot of work, but I love working in the garden.
I use Picmonkey comic bubbles… 🙂
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Great pictures! It’s awesome to look at the differences between different years. I really enjoyed this.
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Oh thank you!
I was shocked at the difference. I could have planted tomatoes in March last year! No lie. It was so hot by April and the complete opposite of this year. 🙂
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Tonight, we were watching the news, and I said: “Wow, my friend Susie is getting hammered.” Hubby said: “Your blogging friend?” I think he’s getting the hang of this thing. And speaking of hanging… Hang in there, Susie. Spring is coming. In the meantime, it’s a good thing you love to ski.
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I read this while I was at the Nuggets basketball game and thought, “Wait. I am only drinking Sprite!”
It is finally warming up with 70’s predicted through the weekend! Yeah!
We needed every bit of the moisture…
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Love those contrasting photos of your feet: Susie’s suntanned and pedicured toes, and then Susie’s snowboots! I have a friend who just returned from the Arctic where he has been conducting research for a number of years. He is very worried about how fast the ice is melting up there.
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Thank you! I couldn’t have taken a photo of my bare feet yesterday. I am in dire need of another one of my semi-annual pedicures! 🙂
The trickle down effect takes on new meaning when talking about global warming. That’s what I suspected. The jet stream is sweeping more southward and we have had Canada’s weather. So weird, but we are supposed to bounce up to the 70’s by Sunday!
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Hilarious photo essay, Susie! Yes, I woke up this morning and thought: “WTF! another day I have to leave early to get there on time!” And everyone of my clients is being wonderfully positive and talking about how much we need the moisture. And I’m thinking: “When will I get to plant my peas?” It has certainly been an interesting “Spring” so far!
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Thanks so much Cathy!
I can’t believe it either.
I haven’t even been inside a gardening center and last year I went out and bought all of my annuals early. Can you believe it was 87 degrees a year ago???
The moisture is great. Maybe we won’t have the water restrictions they were predicting.
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I don’t want to alarm you Susie but since you sent the sunshine the weather has been lovely over here. Like you spring has sprung late this year – i think our weather patterns are changing – interesting that the state of the economy is such that the green agenda has slipped of the radar.
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That was my mighty hot air I blew over to London for you Jim. Hahaha! I have plenty of it to spare!
I was just talking about how strange it is to have a Democratic President and no big green agenda. Maybe this summer when the superstorms hit, they’ll start the conversation again.
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Agreed Susie
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Mother Nature is in need of some serious menopause treatment…perhaps a natural supplement to take the edge off would bring you some green. We’ve been on a weather roller coaster here as well … it’s getting old.
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It is getting old!
She needs a vitamin B and estrogen shot STAT!!!!
Warm weather is on the way. I figure it has to come eventually since the sun is getting higher in the sky and we are a mile high after all!
Thanks Lisa! Stay warm….
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Hilarious captions, Susie!
I love that icy pond pic.
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Thanks Hook!
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Great photos and the captions were so right on. I loved the way you presented this photo essay.
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Oh Thank you! We received 47.6 inches of snow in April, but the 70 degree days are supposed to arrive this weekend!
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Brilliant! Let’s ski together next year.
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Definitely! I would love that. Thanks so much!
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Oh, you had me at rhubarb pie, Susie!!!
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That’s last year’s rhubarb! This year it is just a week little sprout!
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Your photos are beautiful – especially Spring 2012 around your house. Love the flowers! And it’s amazing how you don’t let those freakishly foreshortened legs keep you down. You go, girl!
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Hahaha! I will be foreshortening them again soon! I can’t wait to get out there. It is already 64 outside and it’s 10:30! That’s Colorado for you. Once the sun shines, it warms up!
Thanks Peg!
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What a great set of pictures – it certainly has been an odd year…(hmmm rearranging the ski season…travel agents are rearranging the “off season” price lists.)
We’re expecting temps in the 40’s later this week? Odd odd odd….maybe ice flows instead of rising water along the coast? giggle on!
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Just wandering around again today – looks like more snow in Denver from the TV pictures – poor plants!
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I know. It is the craziest weather ever. I just finished a funny blog about it..
Glad you wandered by!
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must wander back!…18 inches in Ft Collins?
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It is still snowing. Unbelievable! Let me know if you wander. 🙂
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Saw the news tonight about Colorado. The Ice Man returneth !!!!??!! Feel so sorry for you guys. Just think though…, one more trip down the mountain!
Stay warm.
Paul
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Those were almost my same words on FB and Twitter! We are done skiing, but we need the moisture, so I can’t complain too much. I wasn’t going to blog until Saturday or Sunday, but I had to write something funny about this crazy weather!
Thanks Paul! It is still snowing.
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