Spring Has Sprung Early

 Spring has arrived earlier than what the groundhog predicted in February.  The groundhog saw his shadow which meant another 6 weeks of winter, but in Nebraska our last time with temperatures below freezing was the first part of March.  The month of March turned out to be the warmest March on record.  We have been experiencing record breaking temperatures since then.  Last weekend the temps were in the high 80's and low 90's.  These temperatures are 20+ degrees higher than what is normal for this time of the year.

 I had to take some photos and do a post about the weather just to record how warm it has been and how early everything is blooming.  In the photo above, our crab apple tree usually does not bloom until around Mother's Day and it started blooming last weekend.  It is a good thing I took the photo when I did because two days later the wind was blowing hard and all the blossoms blew away. 

 My tulips are done blooming already.  I always know that it is really spring when I see their blossoms.

This is Ashlin's dogwood tree that she got last year when she attended Arbor Day at the college.  Each student was given a tree to take home.  When she brought the tree home it looked like just a twig.  Ashlin and Dad planted the tree in one of my flowerpots and watched it grow all last summer.  Then last September, it was planted in the ground.  The tree has survived the winter and is sprouting many leaves.

My fear now is that we will get a freeze and kill many plants and trees.  We need the temperature to stay above 27 degrees to keep the plants growing.  I can never remember my plants being up and growing this early in the spring.  Keith has even mowed the yard already.  At our house we are loving that spring has sprung early.  We spend lots of time outside.

Take care,
Michelle