Spring Is Just Around the Corner

By Liz Page

CATSKILL – The clocks were moved ahead one hour last weekend and many are happy there will now be more daylight on the other later end of the day.

President Trump, although he has expressed he was going to eliminate Daylight Saving Time and Congress is considering legislation that would make it permanent, it hasn't happened yet, so we will be soaking up the extra daylight on the PM portion of our days.

For some of us, the time change is a sign of spring, or that spring is getting closer, at least. Getting home from work in the daylight leads to getting out and about instead of heading to the couch. Before you know it, we’ll be complaining about how fast the grass is growing.

Milder temperatures this week have people in this region hopeful winter is actually giving way to spring. It has been a colder winter, more like “an old fashioned winter”, whatever that means.

People were stepping livelier this week, dogs are getting longer walks and moods are generally uplifted.

At the end of the month, local maple syrup producers will be hosting their annual Maple Weekends, inviting the public to tour syruping operations statewide. Some local maple syrup producers boiled sap last week. It was considered a minor sap run, but it is another sign of spring. At this time last year, they had already made gallons of syrup.

Although everything is pointing that way, you may not want to get spring fever just yet, because you can't trust that Mother Nature won't throw in one last storm or cold spell. Keep your boots and winter jacket handy.

After some extended cold spells this winter, warmer temperatures are welcome. We are in the yo-yo weather pattern that is common in March. There is rain today, but there could still be more snow tomorrow.

There were more critter tracks in the snow this week and by midweek, most of the snow had disappeared. That is another sign of spring and I think Dottie Pickett wrote that she had seen a robin or someone had reported seeing a robin. The return of robins is another sign of spring. There were lots of Robins in the back 40 over the weekend. The front 40 was still covered with snow.

Over the past couple of weeks, with wind making frigid temperatures even colder, Nature's creatures were not stirring much. However, since last week, I have seen a raccoon track, a couple of fox tracks, a cat track, several turkey tracks and some others. Oh yes, and there were a few birds trying to belt out a morning song. That's another sign of spring. The deer have not returned to the hill yet. They left because of the cold and snow and the difficulty finding a food source. They were eating the dried pods from a tree in my yard, but the pickings were getting pretty slim. When the deer return, it will be another sign the weather is getting better. The Snow Drops (flowers) will be popping up soon and St. Patrick's Day is just a few days away, another time our thoughts turn to spring.

The state Department of Environmental Conservation is issuing its guidance on black bears and coyotes. They say it’s time to put the bird feeders away and secure garbage and domestic animal food.

Sooner or later, many are hoping sooner, spring will arrive and we can cast off the throes of winter and drink in the increased daylight that will lift our moods from the dreariness that is March to enjoy the arrival of spring, which means a new beginning for many. Of course, the Spring Equinox arrives on March 20, making it officially spring, but most of us have to wait for Mother Nature's signs, such as warm, sunny days, flowers and humming bees.

Spring may be just around the corner.