The Spring in February

The weatherman said we are breaking records for high temps in the Northwoods for February.  I certainly did some unusual things for a midwinter's day.  I hung out my wash on the clothesline.  The line was covered in frost so had to push the pins on fully so they didn't slip.  I may have hung clothes out in February before but I've never had them totally dry on the line like they did today.   Usually there is way too much snow to even get vehicles out of the sheds and snowshoes are required for walking anywhere off the plowed path.  Yet today the dog and I jumped into Jormungandr and went looking for new growth in the forest.  I was curious if the warm temps and lack of snow pack might have fooled plants into growing.  So far the plants haven't been duped.  The forest floor looks as decaying and devoid of growth as it did after the first killing frost.   A local guy that taps trees said even though the daytine temps are in the 40/50's and the nights are freezing (which traditionally is when the sap begins to flow in maples) it's too early to start tapping.  The flow will be weak since the trees also use the amount of sunlight in determining when it's time to send sap out to the limbs plus it won't be as sweet as it will be later into the season.  Whip and I also checked the pussywillows at the edge of the far field.  Nope, they aren't plumping up.  We checked the spring in the back 40.  It had stopped flowing for part of last summer.  Glad to say it's back to normal.  I could tell it was running because it had built up layers of ice as water flowed up and over it's icy bed.  When we got back home there was a 'V' of Canadian geese going overhead - they must be able to find open water.  I'll admit it's fun to be able to be out and about this late into the season ... but maybe there will be a few snow flurries next week.