Prominent Member of the Canadian Geese Community says "Six MORE WKS OF WINTER!" (What a SILLY GOOSE!)

CANADIAN GEESE ARE FEATURED IN VOL 2

CANADIAN GEESE ARE FEATURED IN VOL 2

It's a little after nine o'clock in the morning on Friday, February 2, 2018, which among other things, happens to be Ground Hog Day. This is always the case (at least in the United States) on the second day of the second month of the year.

At this hour, in my time zone (E.S.T.), two well known ground hogs (who "serve" under the names of Punxatawney Phil and Staten Island Chuck) have made their predictions regarding the onset of 2018's spring season.

In Pennsylvania, Phil saw his shadow and predicted six more weeks of winter, while on Staten Island, the rodent did not see a shadow and predicted an early spring would be coming to the NYC area.

The predictions are in for 2018 from the creatures representing NYC and Pennsylvania, however, they are not the only groundhogs who serve as meteorologists, please refer to an article written by Jason Bittel which was published by The Washington Post (2017) to learn more.

Meanwhile, since I have published a number of blog posts on subjects related to Groundhog Day (in bygone years), I'm letting another creature weigh in on the matter re 2018's Groundhog Day.

This particular one is a prominent member of the Canadian Geese Community who spend much of their time within the lake in Central Park. I came upon this silly goose while walking in Central Park yesterday and he/she brought to my attention the fact that his/her reflection could be seen in the lake; as evidenced in the photographs atop this entry.

Moreover, the goose wondered if seeing one's reflection qualified as a prediction that there will be six more weeks of winter. I realize that seeing a reflection of one's self is different than seeing his/her shadow; but I do concede that this goose makes a good point! What say you, dear reader?

CANADIAN GEESE ARE FEATURED IN VOL 2

Ground Hog Day: One Week Later

It's been one week since Groundhog Day; and, as you may know dear reader, on that day, the NYC creature, a groundhog named Staten Island Chuck, did not see his shadow! Hence, this fact meant that he predicted an early onset of spring; as seen in the You Tube video which is posted atop this blog entry.

However, on this one week anniversary of his early spring prediction, nine inches of snow fell in Central Park, which is near to where I live in my studio apartment. I have a terrace garden (on a rooftop) at my home, and, it is a place where I grow a variety of flora. It is also a place which is visited by an array of fauna.

The following images show how three of my bird feeders (one of them, a "wreath style" feeder is indicated by an orange arrow in the first image, which includes one of my "house-style" feeders...

THE STORIES IN "WORDS IN OUR BEAK" ARE SET IN MY GARDEN

THE STORIES IN "WORDS IN OUR BEAK" ARE SET IN MY GARDEN

... looked after the snowstorm. As you can see, it appears that my place received close to the same amount of snow as the nearby park. I'm very happy to report that the heavy snowfall did not deter birds from visiting my place, nor did it stop them from partaking in nourishment!

"The groundhog is like most other prophets; it delivers its prediction and disappears." (REPRISED)

Today is Groundhog Day! This is a "holiday" with events whose celebrations date back to 1887 in the United States. However, traditions re this day started long before that, and the Romans looked to hedgehogs — not groundhogs — to forecast the ending of winter or the arrival of spring. However, when folks migrated to Pennsylvania, there weren't any hedgehogs to be found — so they used a groundhog instead!

One of my hedgehog figurines, who has spent time in my indoor succulent garden, has always been a bit "miffed" that the "role" of predicting the weather was delegated to a groundhog! Therefore, to appease him, I included his photograph, which is very similar to the one at the top of today's blog entry, in blog posts that I've made here on TLLG in bygone years. You may refer to those entries by clicking here as well as here.

My other hedgehog figurines seen in the pictures below,

have no aspirations to take over the duties of the groundhog at will-he/she-see-his/her-shadow events, especially in NYC.

The PLOT Thickens (Re Emily)

The last time I posted here on Blogger, which was January the Fourteenth, I made a link available re a tribute I'd written in honor of Emily, the Baltimore oriole featured in the images above and below this narrative.

"If you go to New York City, be sure to wear some flowers in your quills . . . "

Today is April 25th of 2013, which means it has been one month and five days since the "official (calendar date)" of the first day of spring for this year. It has certainly been a Bette Davis season so far; that is, it has been a "bumpy ride" with the weather; and the chaotic weather (mostly cold and dreary) has caused folks in New York City, where I live, to question the prudence of their most trusted meteorologist, Charles G. Hogg (Staten Island Chuck), the celebrity groundhog, whom I have referred to a number of times here on Blogger, including a post which you may refer to by clicking here.

Charles G. Hogg's credibility has been questioned over and over this 2013 spring, for he predicted an early one for the tri-state area, and in many ways folks are still waiting for spring to spring into action.

It's Groundhog Day! It's Groundhog Day! (And my Salad Greens want to know what he has to say!)

The things which I grow in my urban (NYC) terrace garden, and I, would like to wish you a Happy Groundhog Day. Today marks the point between the winter solstice and the spring equinox in the Northern Hemisphere (this day is celebrated on August 1st for those living south of the equator).

In like a lamb . . .

Approximately a month ago I posted an entry about the fact that  Chuck and Phil, the famous groundhogs of the northeast, were in agreement that an early spring was in the works. However, the weather since that time has been very cold.

At least today, the first of March (which is coming in like a lamb so may go out like a lion, delaying spring), brings the promise that there will soon be more daylight. (Daylight Savings Time begins in twelve days on March 13th 2011). 

I am still not ready to unwrap the shrubs and trees that we wrapped in bubble-wrap as well as burlap (from on-line fabrics) this past December (as seen in the photo posted above this entry taken at that time) to prepare them for winter and will probably not do so until April — even if Spring Fever attacks. I have learned the hard way about the consequences of having an eager-beaver-green-thumb, and can almost be certain that other gardeners have done the same, especially after a long dreary winter.

All I can say to my urban gardener comrades is this: those that wait upon the onset of warmer temperatures renew their strength and benefit their gardens.

Sansevieria trifasciata and Other Delights in Tony's Garden

Even though Phil and Chuck, the respected northeastern groundhogs did predict an early spring, it is still winter — mid winter — and although the temperature in the New York City area where I live is predicted to reach near sixty degrees by the end of the week, my urban gardener-comrades  and I will continue to give our respective outdoor gardens (and ourselves) a much needed rest. 

However, indoor gardeners, such as Tony (whose luscious succulent garden can be seen on a window-sill facing Seventy-Second Street in the Upper Westside of New York City and is  the subject of the photograph posted above) continue to find exciting opportunities in maintaining a succulent garden. His succulents vary widely in form, texture, and color mirroring his design potential. At the moment, his Sansevieria trifasciata (Mother-in-law tongue/ Snake plant) stands proudly (as seen in the left corner of this photograph) and seems to watch over the succulent community around her as a lioness would watch over her cubs. Tony's garden exudes the warmth and wonder of exciting places like North Africa, Australia, and Yemen — a much needed respite in the bleakness of winter. 

Staten Island Chuck AND Punxsutawney Phil's "News"

This is an unscheduled entry as I normally post on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, but occasionally I offer an additional post when a noteworthy event occurs, or when I need to follow-up on a given topic. I wrote about the importance of following-up on entries this past fall, and since in Tuesday's entry I discussed the meaning of Groundhog Day (which is today), I am happy to report this: For those who have not heard, our beloved: New York City rodent, Staten Island Chuck, did not see his shadow this morning, which those weary of winter will be happy to know, because this is a traditional sign that spring is on the way.

Staten Island Chuck was in agreement this year with Punxsutawney Phil, who did not see his shadow either. Rare is the case when New Yorkers and those from Pennsylvania agree on much — especially when it comes to their respective sports teams — but today, these citizens do agree on one thing: they hope their "meteorologist-rodents" are correct in their prediction of an early end to winter.

As for me, I'm not hurrying outside to de-winterize my ice-caked roof-extension garden by unwrapping any plants. In fact, maybe I'll invest in a shovel (since they apparently are on sale, as many shop-keeepers have taken on the sentiments of the cartoon posted above) for the snow that's still predicted.

Happy February! Tomorrow is Imbolc Day....What will the groundhog have to say?

Tomorrow, February 2nd, is Imbolc Day, the day that marks the point between the winter solstice and the spring equinox in the Northern Hemisphere (this day is celebrated on August 1st for those living south of the equator), and a day also known as Groundhog Day, when in New York, a rodent known as Staten Island Chuck annually makes a prediction on whether the coming days will be an early spring or prolonged winter. He does this by coming out of hibernation to see if he sees his shadow.

The deal is this: If the groundhog sees his shadow, mend your mittens, as winter will remain fast and furious; but, if he does not see his shadow, an early spring is in the wings. As an urban gardener, I am certainly eager to undo my urban garden winterizing although I hardly rely on a groundhog's predictions — even though in New York the groundhog has been right 85% of the time. A true New Yorker, this little rodent even stood up to Mayor Bloomberg (in 2010) by biting Bloomberg's finger in response for allegedly being coaxed out of his warm home and deep sleep to perform his see-or-not-see-his-shadow task.

I say allegedly because there is speculation that Staten Island Chuck was miffed at Bloomberg (for cutting the Staten Island Zoo's budget from 1.6 million dollars to 1.3 million dollars), and grabbed his chance to retaliate by biting the mayor's finger.

Now, with the mayor's recent arrogance over the response to the mishandling of the December 27, 2010 snowstorm, and his lofty manner regarding third term limits, New Yorkers are waiting in anticipation for tomorrow's event — not only to see if Staten Island Chuck sees his shadow, but to see if this little rodent will reprise his role of standing up to "his honor"— as only he seems to be capable of doing, as evidenced in the video posted below: