The transition out of winter is decidedly easier than the slipping away into winter. Looking forward to spring is becoming increasingly more of an issue even in Central Florida.
I can remember (back in the day) when we wouldn't have a single freezing night for several years in a row. We often wished we did back then just so the bugs and weeds would be at least partially exterminated.
Today marks the halfway point between winter and the coming of spring.
According to the Old Farmer's Almanac it's no accident that February 2 is both Ground Hog Day and Candlemas.
Quoting from The Old Farmer's Almanac Legends and Lore newsletter:
"Both signify the triumph of light over darkness, spring over winter. The 2nd is the astronomical midpoint between the winter solstice and the spring equinox.
Candlemas, a Christian feast day, got its name from the candlelit processions that accompanied it. Groundhog Day, a holiday that uses a furry prognosticator to foretell the coming of spring, depends on the presence (or not) of sunshine for its forecast.
Thus the day is known for weather rhymes, such as Half your wood and half your hay, / Should be gone and be left on Candlemas Day, a reference to the halfway point of wintery weather.
It was not held as a good omen if the day itself were bright and sunny, for this indicated that snow and frost would continue, whereas if it were cloudy and dark, warmth and rain would thaw out the fields and have them ready for planting.
Our Groundhog Day is a remote survivor of that belief!"
AND, fellow central Florida gardeners, we can go ahead and cut back all that damaged foliage.
The Old Farmer's Almanac has a long range forecast for weather in our area:
FEBRUARY 2010: temperature 63.5° (2.5° above avg.); precipitation 4.5" (2" above avg.); Feb 1-6: Sunny, warm; Feb 7-9: Scattered showers, warm; Feb 10-13: Sunny, seasonable; Feb 14-21: Heavy rain, then sunny, chilly; Feb 22-25: T-storms, warm; Feb 26-28: Sunny, cool.
MARCH 2010: temperature 68.5° (1.5° above avg.); precipitation 2.5" (0.5" below avg.); Mar 1-4: Sunny, cool; Mar 5-11: Scattered t-storms, turning warm; Mar 12-21: T-storms, then sunny, warm; Mar 22-31: T-storms, then sunny, seasonable.
Now those average temps remind me of the Florida I know and love.
Find the Long Range Weather Forecast for your area here.
