Unfortunately I did not get to go outside today, but kept hearing how nice it was out there! It is rather scary, and I know it's wrong, but can't help but like the fact that it's not snowy and cold! Good thinking on getting that soil sample in - a good way to turn procrastination into getting an early jump on things, lol!

Both yesterday and today were lovely here, and though I had to work today, I did go outside twice to enjoy the warmth and sun. I spent more time outside yesterday.

Dee & Barb - I think we have a few more days of warmer temps before it gets cold again. Hope you can get out today. The sun is out here and already 47 degrees. I'm also happy not to have been shoveling very much so far. But didn't we get slammed in February and March last year? [g] The long range forecast on WBZ…...

Forget Phil - Your February Outlook

Mid-fifties yesterday, and cooler today but aiming towards 50. It's sunny and warm and looking and feeling very benign today. I don't trust it, but it's sure nice not to have to put on a hundred layers just to get the mail.

The snow shovels and ice chopper will stay on stand-by until the end of March, or maybe even April, and I've added to my collection of very warm gloves for shoveling.

Claire (looking around furtively to see if Mother Nature is grinning)

I too am afraid to put away my snow shovels, pet-safe ice melt, ice cleats, et al. I've certainly enjoyed only using these once so far this winter--makes a nice change from last winter! But I agree with Claire & others that Mother Nature is full of surprises so who knows what's coming before we can declare this winter truly over and done....

I'm slightly worried that some of my plants never died back at all--just paused a little in their growth. (Parsley, sage, lots of spring onions, container violas, etc.) But I'm hoping they'll be OK in the end.

Now they have a Winter Storm Watch for southeast MA for Thursday night into Friday!

The NWS Watch says:
"* Accumulations... snow accumulation of 4 to 6 inches with locally
higher amounts near the Cape Cod canal."

and I'm near the Cape Cod canal.....

NWS Winter Weather Page

The current screenshot is this with 4 to 7 inches for my area:

The shovels may be used yet.

Claire

At least the warmish weather got me outside to prune the buddleias back, right on schedule. I hope they don't start growing right away....

The NWS weather forecasters are reconsidering - this is the latest forecast:

NWS Winter Weather Page

Good for me - maybe 2 inches - but not so good for the folks around and west of Boston. There's still time for another change of mind, and then there's a possible storm next Monday and Tuesday....

Claire

Yesterday I went outside to check the gardens and saw growth everywhere, like new leaves on the 'Iceberg' rose and a few clematis and emerging buds on 'Queen Elizabeth' and other things like my taller sedums and peonies.

Today the snow is coming down and should last until noon here along southern CT.

I think Clare is correct: Mother Nature is grinning. But it's an evil grin,

It's raining here, after raining all night long. 40 degrees in my back yard, and latest reports say our rain is supposed to turn into snow close to mid-day. I'm perfectly happy to wait! :-) In fact I'm very happy NOT to have wakened to a blanket of snow--won't need to hustle outside with the shovels yet....

Hope the rest of you are OK. My weather site says it's "lightly" snowing in Boston environs, so the morning commute could be a mess. Take care!

The rain is mixing with snow now here - that started about 8 AM - so the ground is getting covered with granular "wintry mix". I was just out making sure the birds are overfed and about 30 turkeys were anxiously waiting for me.

The roads are probably slippery and I second barrettoo1's remark - Take care!

Claire

Snow Day!

Boston schools were cancelled last night, but for some silly reason they waited until 5:30am to cancel here. Kids are waiting anxiously for there to be enough on the ground to make snowmen and go sledding, but so far it's only about an inch. I'm generally happy for an occasional snow day, but today is the first day all week that both kids are healthy enough to go to school meaning I haven't be able to do any of my usual errands all week. Oh well, I guess it will have to wait.

Any advice as to how to get birds to discover our birdfeeder? It's our first year and they completely ignore it.

Suzbanana, our local birds have also ignored our birdfeeders all this winter so far. I think it's because of the unusually mild winter (--up till now mild, anyway). We've lived in this house for 3 years now, and the birds were MUCH more interested last winter and the winter before.

I'm telling myself it's just been a weird winter so far .... though maybe things will change for the birds now that we're getting some snow.

I've also been seeing fewer birds than usual (until today) and I figured it was probably because there was so much natural food available in woods and fields nearby.

Other possibilities are related to where the feeders are placed (accessible to predators), hawks, and type of birdseed you're providing.

Claire

Yes, we had a big gang of robins come through too. They descended on the yard and proceeded to fling every bit of leaf mulch about with wild abandon. Funny to watch! This was before yesterday's snowfall, of course. None of those robins were at all interested in the bird feeders, but they did crowd around the birdbath for drinks.

There've only been a few "regulars" who show up very infrequently at my bird feeders this winter--a lone downy woodpecker who visits the suet feeder, and another lone chickadee sporadically at the nyjer feeder. (I think they are "lone"--I hardly ever see them.) Now that the snow has arrived (with more to come next week) I'm expecting the feeders to get a bit busier. We'll see.

Here just southwest of Worcester MA my feeders also have not been active much until a couple of weeks ago. Now I have entire small flocks of goldfinches, chickadees and juncos visiting. Also four tufted titmice and several mourning dove pairs. The hairy and downy woodpecker pairs are back at the suet and once in a while a flicker. I think I saw one of the female cardinals this morning but not sure as I didn't have my glasses on; otherwise the cardinals have been conspicuous by their absense so far this winter, sadly. Usually there are 2 or 3 pairs...

I hate the mess of seed shells so have been using only sunflower hearts along with some safflower and peanut hearts in my feeders. No mess and it all gets eaten!

roxanna, I've had 4 or 5 male Cardinals around all winter, I did have a female Cardinal at the feeder this morning, The Blue Jays are starting to pair off for the spring, I haven't seen any goldfinch yet but every body else has shown up, hoping for a good year with the birds in the garden. The only ones I didn't see this winter is the Robins that hang out near the feed all winter. The snow didn't keep them away and they seem not to mind what little snow we got.