Vole trails

Last winter, as the snow melted, these under-the-snow trails emerged. The date on the file is January 29, 2013.

It is now getting toward the end of March (2014) and the snow has only just begun to melt. There is still about a foot of packed, condensed snow where this picture was taken. I'll be watching daily as I cross the street to and from the lunch cafeteria. But last year was the only time I remember seeing such trails so clear and extensive.

It is now snowing out my window.

Maple leaves

For years we could count on the maple leaves emerging within a few days of April 20. It was so consistent that I wondered whether the trees were motivated by hours of daylight rather than by temperature (which has never seemed very consistent in West Michigan).

Last year we had an exceptionally long and cold Spring. The leaves came out a full two weeks later than normal. Today, just the 3rd day of Spring and the 4th in a row above 80 degrees, the Maple leaves are showing themselves.

There is talk of climate change. Might be something to it.
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This was written in March of 2012. The early heat that year was hard on apple trees—and the growers. This year (2018) has been another unusually late year for spring. Today is Tuesday, May 8, and only this past weekend did the leaves come out on the maple trees. I hope it's a good year for apples.