The unfolding of spring
After a mild January and February, the month of March was on the cool side and this was good as it slowed down the advance of our spring growth.
You may recall last year after a mild winter, a mid-April freeze did a lot of damage to area plants, bushes and trees. This year, we should do much better as temperatures in April are forecast to be a bit above average and our spring growth is just starting to emerge.
It is interesting to note how much further along the growth is in our urban areas. Cities are always warmer and many people over the years have planted a colorful variety of bushes and trees that have spectacular blooms in April and May. We were traveling through the south last week and decided to get off the interstate and enjoy a slower pace of travel. What a treat this turned out to be as these roads and small towns were just ablaze in spring color. Yellow, pink and orange blossoms were everywhere.
Spring is truly my favorite time of the year. It is the season of renewal and rebirth in our gardens and forests. Even in the mountains where it is colder, many hints of spring are taking place. Looking out our window colorful hellebores and daffodil are already in bloom and the yellow forsythia bushes are loaded and about to open.
In the coming days, our forest floor will see a new carpet of colorful wildflowers take hold and spread up our hillsides. My favorite is the Virginia bluebells which make their appearance in mid April.
A reliable indicator of spring is the singing of the spring peepers. They are a small chorus frog found in small ponds and waterways throughout Southwestern Pennsylvania. Their calls are an indicator that winter is giving way to spring. They breed from late March into early June and the sound you hear is that of the young males calling for a mate.
Area temperatures average 64 for the high and 40 for the early morning low. This is 10 degrees warmer than March. Records are 93 and 29. Frost can occur on any day in April. Snow is not unusual but averages less than an inch. On April 28, 1928, eight inches of snow fell across the area and several feet of snow demoralized the mountain areas of Southwest Pennsylvania and West Virginia according to the local paper.
Happy spring!