March in Vermont

Below are excerpts from Ellen’s journal. She has kept her Walden Hill Journal going since we moved from Illinois. We hope you enjoy reading them for a vicarious experience of Vermont.

Mar. 1, 2006 We’re roaring into March with the thermometer staying below zero for the entire day. The wind was quite creative about redistributing last night’s couple of inches of new snow. By afternoon though, the blowing had calmed down and the sun was doing its best to shine through a thin veil of clouds. We ventured out for a snowshoe and reopened the trail. I shortened it some since my feet were beginning to feel a bit tingly. Subzero weather seems to have that effect. We were able to hold off on starting up the wood stove until around 4:00 and for most of the day, enjoyed the warmth of our passive solar heat. It’s time to start thinking about bringing some dormant geraniums and tuberous begonias into the solarium to wake them up again. Comforting thoughts for this very chilly beginning to March.

Mar. 4, 2006 Continuous snow all day today with those gusting March winds swirling the powdery snow in all directions and piling it up into sizable drifts. I braved the elements and joined my neighbor Jean for a snowshoe through her woods. Once we got into the protection of the trees, it was surprisingly calm, peaceful and actually very pleasant. Highlights outdoors included my finding a small, tightly woven nest with shrub branches braided into the construction to anchor the nest firmly onto a small alder tree. We also saw several beech trees with copious bear claw markings and even a very high nest that the bears had created by bending and breaking branches to form a platform for sitting while harvesting beech nuts. There were basically no tracks in the snow other than from our snowshoes. I think it was a combination of a very strong wind erasing any signs of animal activity as well as the animals themselves laying low during the storm. It was an invigorating couple of hours and just the ticket for shaking off my midwinter cabin fever.

Mar. 7, 2006 Annual Town Meeting today. Last year we ventured to the meeting during a major snow storm but today it was bright and sunny with sap buckets hung on the Kitchel’s trees at the bottom of the road. The town portion of the meeting took the majority of the time, continuing well past the delicious ham and baked bean lunch break. The main budget was not an issue, but the many special appropriations took time and discussion. The new P.A. system gave some very shocking, loud, distorting jolts when we least expected it. One longtime resident was hesitant to use the microphone in general because he complained: “It’s like kissing my wife through a screen” to which the moderator replied,”I’m only asking you to talk into it!”. The school board was commended for preparing a budget with a very modest increase. Of interest was the possibility of state funds to explore alternative energy in the form of burning wood chips or pellets to heat the school rather than continuing to rely on high priced oil. Meeting was adjourned at 2:30.

Mar. 9, 2006 After three glorious spring-like days, we’re back to dreary winter with an icy snow whipping through. The forecast however, is for a warmer weekend with possible 50° temps. Chickadees are beginning to sing their descending two-note song so we must be moving towards spring. A lone redpoll at the feeder let us know that conditions further north must be worse than here. Sap buckets are hung very low this year, taking advantage of the sparse snow cover to allow the trees to be tapped closer to the ground. Daylight has been extended by an earlier sunrise (approximately 6:30) and a later sunset with lingering twilight. It’s that time of year that one can be cautiously hopeful that winter is moving on towards an eventual spring. But experience lets us know that we need to complete March and all of April if not a good part of May, first.

Mar. 14, 2006 Just four days ago we took a mini-vacation to Boston. Jeff had to snowblow the drive before we could leave but 150 miles later we were in 60°, shirtsleeve weather with daffodils poking out of the ground. We returned home to more thawing and very muddy roads. 24 hours of continued warm weather and torrential rains brought the snow down considerably and actually helped to bring out the frost and stabilize the road. Thick, soupy fog made for treacherous travel. Tonight we’re finally seeing the thermometer drop back below freezing and a fresh cover of snow is falling. Like Jeff said: “It’s March, any old weather comes marching through!”.

Mar. 18, 2006 We’re definitely snow-covered on Walden Hill but in St. Jay it’s mostly bare ground. Deer are congregating on the edge of town to graze on the newly exposed dry grass and turkeys are flocking on Dole Hill to nibble on whatever they can find in the snow. Song sparrows were temporarily back at our feeder but have disappeared with the returning snow. Daytime temps only in the low teens, have put a halt to whatever sugaring was under way. We’re still on the long wait ’til spring. A few mild days were only a taste of what’s to come. I’ve started some tomato seeds just to get into practice for more serious gardening later. A two-stalk, six-blossom amaryllis brightens up the solarium. Geraniums and tuberous begonias are coming out of their forced dormancy there as well. Jeff has temporarily cleared space in his studio for our indoor gardening.

Mar. 19, 2006 Moose are beginning to move out of the woods in search of open ground to supplement their twiggy winter diet. We saw our first bull moose of the year, grazing in a horse pasture in Peacham. He was wearing the beginnings of his new rack growth. Meanwhile we’re seeing more snow up here today with no bare ground remaining. It looks like I’ll be using my snowshoes for a while yet.

Mar. 20, 2006 Vernal Equinox. Spring officially arrived at 1:26 P.M. today. To mark the occasion, the snow stopped falling and the sun made a brief appearance. The temperature however, barely climbed above 20°. What this date indicates for us is not the end of winter but the triumph of daylight over night. From here on we’ll have more hours of light to enjoy the beauty of winter. “The red of osier, the green of pine, the pale tan of winter leaves on sapling beeches, the blue of late afternoon shadows on the snow and the play of sunrise and sunset tintings across the mantled fields—such are the colors of a New England winter.” (Edwin Way Teale “Wandering Through Winter”)

Mar. 26, 2006 Signs of spring are slowly appearing on Walden Hill. The sight and sound of geese as they journey north is by far the most exhilarating for me. A lone robin was gliding through open patches in the field and a starling was back at the feeder. Stonewalls are resurfacing from the retreating snow and bright green moss, nourished by the run-off, startles the senses. Flowing water and muddy roads along with steaming sugarhouses place us well into March. We’re even invited to a picnic in North Danville today. Of course, the fact that we had considerable snow yesterday and are seeing a few flakes today, remind us that it’s only March and we have another full month before removing the winter tires.

Mar. 27, 2006 Bright, clear, sunny day. As the weatherman announced this morning, this is the first time in over 2 1/2 weeks that the sun has had full reign in the morning sky. Several more days of the same are in the forecast. A very handsome hawk was perched in one of the shads this morning, with a front row center viewing of the bird feeder. Needless to say, he had effectively cleared the stage. From his markings it appeared to be a Swainson’s hawk but judging from its territory description, he was out of his range. So all I can say is that it was a hawk with a Swainson-like appearance.

Mar. 30, 2006 Juncos, mourning doves, a tree sparrow and a female purple finch have joined the chickadees at the feeder. More and more open ground has brought increasing numbers of robins. Even their melodious song is beginning to fill the air. The past few days have been full of glorious sunshine and temperatures that hit the 50° mark. Nights still drop below freezing so maple sap is running and sugar makers are boiling. I walked the reservoir road with Jean yesterday and had everything from snow to mud to solid ground to hike on. We saw a fuzzy wooly bear caterpillar out for a sunny crawl on top of the snow. Our road is solidifying nicely but Kittredge Rd. is now in full muddy bloom. March is living up to its reputation. It roared in like a lion with subzero temperatures and is out like a lamb with highs predicted to reach into the 60’s today with mostly sunny skies. Just a hint of white remains on the Presidential peaks, Mt. Moosilauke and the ski runs of Cannon Mtn. Our field and woods still have some snow but both gardens have reemerged. It’s definitely a hopeful end to March. Redwing blackbirds have returned! A territory-establishing male serenaded me against the door creaking, clacking sound of grackles as I hung my first outdoor laundry of the season. What a refreshing sight to see the laundry flapping in the breeze, even if it was against a background of snow. After all, March is the month of extremes.