Springish in Jersey.

2-20-17 SHORT HILLS: When it was warm over the weekend in VT, it was hot here with temps near 70°. The snow that was covering the yard is completely gone, small remnants of the plow piles are still present in the driveway. Today was cooler, about fifty when we got back from VT.

It may well be too early in the season, but lots of plants are responding to the warm weather. Snowdrops are actually blooming in one spot and in bud in several others. Vinca minor has a couple flowers out. Buds of trees and shrubs are swollen and starting to open—viburnum, currant, chestnut, elm, spicebush, andromeda to name just a few.

The next couple of days are predicted to be warm with cool nights, but harsh weather is clearly possible and probably likely in the weeks to come. Temps in the teens will damage a lot of the stuff now rushing to open. This is one pitfall of climate change.

New blooms: snowdrops, Vinca minor.


Snowdrops are up. These are the first of lots in our yard.

Vinca minor one of two early flowers.

Elm tree branches with buds about to pop open with flowers.