Please tell me that spring is almost here. Spring is almost here. In fact, it’s likely that by the time you read this, spring will already be here; it officially starts in the Northern Hemisphere on March 20.
Does that mean we’ve seen the last of winter? Hang on to your snow shovel, my friend. While it’s true that in our region we usually get 80 to 90 per cent of our annual snowfall by the end of February, Mother Nature is nothing if not unpredictable, which is what keeps meteorologists and TV weather people gainfully employed.
I have to say I’m glad to see the snow going. Most people are, by this point, even if the departure of the snow from lawns reveals grass that looks as if it’s just waiting for someone to come in and read the last rites over it.
This is natural, right? It is. Grass is nothing if not resilient; it will come back, even if you don’t do anything to it. Please do not take that as sound gardening best practice, however.
You had me excited there for a second. Sorry. And as far as the departure of the snow, and the coming of warmer weather, goes, remember last summer?
How can I forget? My point exactly. Throughout July and August, how many people did you hear longing for much cooler temperatures, rain, and even snow? And I don’t mean people who couldn’t wait to hit the slopes at Sun Peaks; I’m talking about people who normally react to snow the way vampires react to Holy Water.
So you’re saying “Be careful what you wish for”? Just bear it in mind.
Okay. On another note, I’ve been spotting some unusual creatures in my back yard. Lots of people have, and I’m not talking about that cat with the crooked tail that likes to poop in your flower bed. After 21 years of living in Ashcroft, I saw the first squirrel in my back yard late last summer, and there are Stellar’s jays around for the first time that I can remember.
Is this to do with the fire? It could be, as birds and animals are pushed out of their natural habitat. Or it could be climate change, with previously inhospitable regions now proving inviting to various creatures.
It’s kind of nice to see the variety. In the case of some creatures, yes, it is. However, there are some creatures you definitely do not want taking up residence in your yard.
Such as? Raccoons.
Hey, Rocket Raccoon in Guardians of the Galaxy isn’t so bad. Rocket Raccoon is a wisecracking but ultimately loyal fictional sidekick voiced in the movies by Bradley Cooper. Of course he isn’t so bad. Unfortunately, fictional raccoons not voiced by Mr. Cooper—and these ones are very much in the majority—are less “wisecracking but loyal sidekick” and more “vicious killing machines”. There’s a reason they wear masks, you know, and it’s not because they’re fans of the Lone Ranger.
So if there are raccoons around I should keep my cats indoors? If you love your cats, that’s a good idea.
Thanks for this! No problem. Just don’t be in too much of a hurry to put that snow shovel away. Who knows? It might come in handy for frightening away a raccoon.
Correction: In last week’s paper it was stated that Gerry Peters is a TNRD director. He is in fact on the Board of the Ashcroft HUB Society. The Journal regrets the error.
editorial@accjournal.ca
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