If you follow me on Facebook or have liked the Tails Around the Ranch Facebook page, you no doubt have seen all the kvetching I’ve done about the Spring storm that blew through Denver over the weekend. Denver is officially considered a high mountain desert and when I say we need the moisture, I mean it (even in an El Niño year that has hardly delivered its promise of above normal precipitation). With apologies to those who’ve seen my multiple posts complaining of winter this past week…let me just say you guys can go should you so desire (but truth be told we’d really love it for you to stay a while 😉 ). For the rest of you, here’s my latest rant take on Mother Nature’s cruel hoax where Spring is concerned.
This past week was chilly, grey and VERY windy (for a couple of days we thought we were back on I-80). I can deal with the chilly temps, even the occasional dreary day but an entire week is highly unusual (remember we have over 300+ days of sunshine in the Mile High) especially when they follow several days of 70+ degree days that I was getting used to, it can be a real shocker to the system. And then there’s the fact that I absolutely loathe windy conditions and complain like a one-legged pirate walking a gang plank.
We were beguiled into thinking Spring was going to arrive on time, perhaps even a bit early (recall that the Groundhog said Spring would arrive sooner rather than having 6 more weeks of Winter). I’m never trusting that lying rat rodent again. It was wonderful being able to garden in shirtsleeves and not have to dress like a bundled up Eskimo out on the ice flow. But Mother Nature has a wicked sense of humor in Colorado. Just when you come to expect moderate temperatures, she throws you a curve ball with a whole lot of icy spit on the side. The low yesterday morning was 16. That’s right, ONE-SIX-freezing-my-tush-off degrees! Are you kidding me??!!
From smiling yellow daffodils to snow-covered crocuses, extremes like this are the norm and not the exception in Colorado. Sigh.
Luckily, bulbs are fairly resilient around here, even if the about-to-bloom flowering trees are not quite as forgiving. No doubt there will be a number of flowering plums that simply will refuse to flower this year just to spite you, Mother Nature.
Chalk it up to just another ‘Springtime in the Rockies” red herring from Mother Nature’s arsenal of dirty, rotten tricks. ‘Snowball bushes’ in a Colorado Springtime landscape look more like this (bare shrubs with real snowballs) than the lovely version below.
Below is a photo from yesterday morning showing how bizarre landscapes can be in Denver…even on the same block. See the leafed out globe willow tree on the left side? Notice across the street on the right side where there’s still snow covering the front yards? Yeah, that’s how we roll around here at a mile above sea level. 
Here’s hoping your first weekend of Spring was a good one. Is the weather as crazy in your neck of the woods as it is in ours?
Live, love, bark! <3
Here in north of South Australia we were warned that winter would be colder and drier this year. It must be that all this rain and flooding ( exploding mains water pipes in Adelaide notwithstanding) we have been having of late can only be a figment of the imagination. Either that or the much maligned Mother Nature is being kind and giving us enough water to keep us going after she turns off the tap (faucet)
Here’s hoping your weather fulfills all your needs. 😀
I love that snow picture of the flowers poking through.
Thanks. I’m a sucker for snow covered bulbs myself. 😉
It was almost 70 yesterday and we’re expecting 8″ of snow tonight. Ah, living the Rockies in Spring – good times! 😉
72 here with up to 12″ expected. Ah yes, springtime in the Rockies! Stay safe and warm! ღ
Mother nature, as nasty as she can be at times, is still the greatest artist I’ve ever seen or experienced. We got some heavy storms over the past few days and now this morning he sun is shinning brilliantly into my office window, birds chirping, and outside the flora are smiling and reaching for the sky. We’ve had a good winter and our major reservoirs are much higher and closer to seasonal normal. We ain’t out of this drought yet in CA and I look forward to more rain but maybe not until next year. Kali and I have missed too many walks….
Mother Nature is quite the artist indeed. Another day of 70’s and then rain/snow forecast for tomorrow. Wild fluctuations lately. 😉
I just came back from Arizona where it was so bloody dry I am always amazed at how people can live in the desert and thrive. I find even Los Angeles too dry for my taste. I will add to your grumbling and complaining by saying that the el Nino we were promised and equipped for materialized into just three or four late storms. And now it’s sunny all the way to next Winter no doubt.
SadlyI think the predicted El Niño was a bit overblown this year.
I’m keeping my fingers crossed for spring to really arrive for you, too. Just read tipsymom2′ comment and your reply and was wondering how many states have that same saying. Here in Texas the waiting time is even shorter, btw, “If you don’t like the weather in Texas, wait 5 minutes!” 😉
Have a great week,
Pit
Oh, you know what they say…Spring today, Winter tomorrow. Does the weather really change that quickly in Texas or are you guys just more impatient than some of the rest of us? 😉
Well, maybe we’re just more impatient. You may be right, there. 😉 Especially in summertime we can have those high temps [in the 3-digits] for months on end.
Btw, we’re usually kept in the know about Denver weather as my wife’s cousin lives there!
What a coincidence! My sis lives outside Austin! #it’sasmallworld 😉
I agree: it’s certainly a small world. 🙂
That freeze must have wiped out the Colorado citrus crop for the year.
Yup…no Colorado lemons this year!
OMP! I’m so with you that winter must DIE – snorts with piggy laughter. Today when mommy went to the work, it was in the 30’s. Shivers to mergatroid – that’s cold here in the south this time of the year. AND it’s suppose to be that way tomorrow too. Mom had to break out her Uggs for her sandals today. Shaking piggy head. We need winter GONE like yesterday. XOXO – Bacon
In today’s schizophrenic weather report (brought to you by that crazy lady, Mother Nature), the temps will be in the 70’s but we expect rain/snow by tomorrow night. LOL
unbelievable. Mother Nature is psycho! Snorts with piggy laughter. XOXO – Bacon
I don’t think there is any doubt that Mother Nature is doing the best she can but, sadly, her plans are constantly being impacted by human greed, irresponsibility, and just plain stupidity. I have no doubt that she will have the last word, but I am not sure that I want to know what that “last word” might be!
Totally agreed. On all those thoughts. 😉
our first spring weekend was a cold one too… I normally know no limit when we walk, but this time I was the one who pulled back to the car :o)
Even Sam who is frisky in cooler temps ran out, did his business and was back by the door in a nano-second! Here’s hoping you’re staying warm this week. ღ
I think the whole country is getting some crazy weather! For the last 2-3 weeks, we had beautiful weather with high temps in the 70s and even low 80s. Then on Saturday morning the temps dipped down to the mid 40s and the dampness settled deep in my bones. Brrrrrr! I’m just glad we didn’t get an ice storm!
Amen to that! Those are rare in Denver, our weather prefers to dump depths of white stuff or blow into huge drifts. 😉
Yes. East Tennessee weather is almost as crazy. Yesterday, in 10 minutes the temperature dropped 8 degrees and it started snowing! Not a lot, but a little. Within an hour, the sun was shining again. We have had temperatures in the 80’s already, so the 30 degrees this morning is a shock to the system. I’m hoping it isn’t cold enough to kill the young leaves that are out on the trees. Our saying around here is, “If you don’t like the weather, wait 10 minutes.” LOL
We say that in Colorado too. I’ve seen 50 degree shifts in less than 12 hours. C.R.A.Z.Y.!!