Life Along Lake Michigan

Last Updated: 12:52 PM GMT on April 27, 2013 — Last Comment: 6:30 PM GMT on May 18, 2013

	Warmest March Days on Record

Posted by: JanesVacation, 11:59 PM GMT on March 21, 2012

The daffodils are in bloom and the tulips are budded. Maple leaves have shed their outer shell and are red and ready to unfold. The last two days have been the warmest March days in recorded history. 83F.

I am outdoors every evening enjoying the mild and sunny weather. I can't believe our good fortune top be enjoying these sunny days.

Sadly, these beautiful apple blossoms likely spell doom for the local farmers. We are at least 2 months away from the last frost date. A frost will eliminate the entire fruit crop in Michigan this spring/summer. There is nothing to stop Mother Nature, we will just have to enjoy the blooms and see what happens down the line.

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1. JanesVacation 10:48 PM GMT on March 22, 2012
Temperature records continue to fall here. It was 85 today, which is record setting temperature for the third day in a row. And let me say...it has been GREAT! No coat, no sweater and sleeping with the windows open every night is the best. We are getting so spoiled. Although, the next 7 days appear warm as well with highs in the 60's, which is pleasant for this time of year when the normal highs are in the 40's. I'm going to plant some grass seed and see if our lawn will thicken with these mild temperatures and chances of rain! Member Since: June 21, 2008 Posts: 258 Comments: 1253

2. PugetSoundPost 2:01 PM GMT on March 23, 2012
Good morning! I love the cherry blossom photo! So "Spring"! You have skipped right ahead into summer, even if only temporarily I suppose. We are still really waiting for spring. The last few weeks have been closer to winter in many ways - cool/cold, lots of clouds and rain most days, and even several bouts of snow flurries. We have been the counter-balance to all of the eastern heat, apparently. My daughter is home on spring break this week, which is flying by. We are trying to make good wedding progress, but several other things are also vying for our time. Yesterday we had an interesting day exploring the "everyday dishes" department at Macy's. A new world to my daugher and fiance, and so much to think about. At least we may be down to two patterns to choose from now! Building a registry is going to take a lot more time than they have. Keep enjoying your wonderful weather and hope that some of it drifts to the northwest sometime! Member Since: October 8, 2001 Posts: 155 Comments: 612

3. SBKaren 9:00 PM GMT on March 25, 2012
Hey Jane - you're back! Kind of, sort of! You guys have been hogging all the beautiful warm weather. We have slipped back into winter. Lots of rain and blustery wind today. Another cool week ahead. Maybe we'll have some nice spring like weather when I actually have spring break - which is coming up in April! Member Since: February 21, 2005 Posts: 191 Comments: 14187

4. JanesVacation 12:23 AM GMT on March 27, 2012
The spring weather is on hold. tonight there are freeze warnings posted and we are in danger of losing our spring fruit crop here in southwest Michigan. We knew it couldn't last...but secretly hopped it would. Spring break begins on Friday and lasts through April 9. Can't wait to hang out in Chicago with my hubby next week for a few days. Weather promises to be cooperative again, too. I spent a long weekend at Disney World with my daughter and her husband. We had a FANTASTIC time at the Magic Kingdom, Epcot and Animal park. 3 parks in 3 days - it was a whirlwind vacation. (It took me most of last week to recover!) Member Since: June 21, 2008 Posts: 258 Comments: 1253

5. shoreacres 2:50 AM GMT on March 27, 2012
Oh, I just was posting at Karen's about your fruit crop. My friend up in Torch Lake is about unstrung. There are places where the orchards are in full bloom - it's just awful. Guess I'd better order a few more jars of my favorite sour cherries now. ;) Gosh, you've got a late spring break, too. On the other hand, I guess ours always was around Easter. It's over with, here, although I think the kids do get Good Friday off. They're deep into testing right now - everyone's least favorite time of the year! ADD: Good gosh, that photo is beautiful! Member Since: October 4, 2004 Posts: 195 Comments: 14799

6. SwampDuck 7:40 PM GMT on March 27, 2012
My apple trees haven't flowered yet but I know some of the apple farms up here may have. We just had 2 freezing nights in a row here in northeast Michigan at my house. Sunday night was 25, last night 21. I covered my lilacs that have flower buds with sheets as well as my rose bushes which already have leaves. None of them look very good this morning. Can't imagine what fruit trees look like today. Member Since: March 22, 2012 Posts: 3 Comments: 3

7. PugetSoundPost 2:22 AM GMT on March 28, 2012
Hi! Looks like you have cooled down to about where we are now. That's too bad. Actually you may be a little cooler now at night. My high school daughter has spring break next week as well, after our university spring break last week - keeps me meeting myself coming and going. How far is Chicago from you? Your trip to Florida sounds like wonderful fun! I have never been to Florida, even though my husband has an aunt and cousins in Orlando - they keep inviting us - not exactly sure why we have never made it, as we have been many other places around the country. But even from here a lot of people make the trip there to "do the parks". Member Since: October 8, 2001 Posts: 155 Comments: 612

8. JanesVacation 11:24 PM GMT on March 28, 2012
Just came in from covering up my tender plants with plastic. I'm not sure it is reasonable that we can avoid a freeze all of the way to our normal frost date of May 10. I plan to be gone 3 days next week and nobody will be here on those nights. Mother Nature has played a trick on us to have these flowers budding so early this year. It was nice while the early summer weather lasted, but now we are seeing highs in the 50's with March winds blowing. It lifts my spirits to see the green leaves on the trees, but I am unsure what will happen if we get a typical freeze. One more full day of school until spring break begins. Woo Hoo!!! Everyone is excited! Member Since: June 21, 2008 Posts: 258 Comments: 1253

9. JanesVacation 4:59 PM GMT on March 31, 2012
Ugh, it is still just 40F here. Where has spring gone??? It has been cold and cloudy and windy...just like spring in Michigan is suppose to be! The apple blossoms and spring flowers are frozen in time. I don't think they have had a hard freeze, but they are just waiting for the warm sun to return. The leaves just stopped in mid growth. The trees are shadowed in green - but not enough to consider leafed out, yet. Patience, patience, patience. Meanwhile, daughter and son in law are on the road again in Chile. They are visiting a little town called, "San Pedro de Atacama" in the middle of nowhere Chile. They are quite a traveling pair....oh to be so young again! They look so happy... Member Since: June 21, 2008 Posts: 258 Comments: 1253

10. sandiquiz 8:49 AM GMT on April 01, 2012
I hear you about the fluctuations in weather... I had to break the ice on the bird bath this morning when I went out to feed the birds! Last week my visitor and I sat in a park near a pond, listening to the birds and bees and watching butterflies flutter around.... and I caught the sun, making my arms a gentle honey colour! And now frost! Lovely photo of you daughter and son-in-law ... :) Member Since: October 29, 2005 Posts: 252 Comments: 22418

11. JanesVacation 2:50 PM GMT on April 02, 2012
In Chicago on this sunny Monday morning. The trees are in full blossom and it is 51F. Waiting to pick up a rental car at noon to do some shopping today. Hopefully I'll be successful at navigating the expressways. Did it when I was in my 20's.....LOL. Now, I have the advantage of a GPS to plug in! Hubby is away 10+ hours everyday, so it gets boring here without a car. Member Since: June 21, 2008 Posts: 258 Comments: 1253

12. PugetSoundPost 4:04 PM GMT on April 02, 2012
Hi Jane! Happy Spring Break!! We are enjoying Round 2 of that this week as well with my youngest daughter home. I understand what it is like to have your hubby at work all day while you are along in a place not your own. A couple of summers ago my husband was sent on less than 24 hours notice to Hawaii for a work crisis. A day or so later I joined him, as it looked like he would be there about two weeks. It was a long story on my short notice and having to hurry and leave everything behind at home, but there I ended up in a hotel on Waikiki pretty much by myself. He was working crazy hours at Hickam AFB, - he worked 80 hours just the first week there! A little bit better the second week, but still very long hours. So, I was two weeks on Waikiki by myself, basically, and if that isn't strange! But I knew it would be like that before I went and it turned out just fine. A good experience for me - to have all that time by myself, for the first time in zillions of years, and there was enough to keep occupied with for me. It probably also helped that he has always had bouts of long work hours, so this was not super new for us. Plus, he was able to get a few bits and pieces of free time and we did a couple of things together, including one whole day of snorkeling, so to me it was a successful trip that was so unexpected and so different, which is something we seem to need at this age now and then. Isn't it 'funny' how something like driving the freeways of a city were easy back a few decades ago and aren't so care-free anymore?? Member Since: October 8, 2001 Posts: 155 Comments: 612

13. seflagamma 4:39 PM GMT on April 07, 2012
Hi Jane, Love the pic of your daughter in SIL, yes, to be young again and hve the freedom they have at this time in their life!!! Have a Blessed and Happy Easter Weekend! Easter Christian Graphics Member Since: August 29, 2005 Posts: 286 Comments: 40485

14. juslivn 4:26 AM GMT on April 08, 2012
"> Member Since: August 20, 2009 Posts: 73 Comments: 9049

15. sandiquiz 7:32 AM GMT on April 08, 2012
Easter Prayer May all happiness be yours, Your troubles fade away, And only gladness reign within Your heart, this Easter Day. Anon Member Since: October 29, 2005 Posts: 252 Comments: 22418

16. JanesVacation 1:20 PM GMT on April 08, 2012
Happy Easter! The sun is out this morning and with light winds and blue skies it promises to be a great day. I am cooking up some things this morning to take to my Mom and Dad about an hour and a half away. We are going to have Easter dinner together and then I will head home for one more day of Spring Break. School starts again on Tuesday, which is great! Member Since: June 21, 2008 Posts: 258 Comments: 1253

17. GardenGrrl 11:13 PM GMT on April 08, 2012
Member Since: March 25, 2007 Posts: 218 Comments: 7252

18. SBKaren 2:40 AM GMT on April 09, 2012
Hi Jane - I hope you had a good Easter with your folks. I know you are looking forward to going back to work, but now I'm on spring break! We had a beautiful weekend but we have 2 chances of rain this week. Oh well, such is our spring...you just never know what you are going to get! Member Since: February 21, 2005 Posts: 191 Comments: 14187

19. PugetSoundPost 4:02 AM GMT on April 11, 2012
Back to school again! The last lap is under way! I hope you had a great Easter and time with your parents. Must take advantage of each opportunity. Our family was mostly together, some of the time. I managed to have all my kids (4 of them, plus future SIL) together for at least Easter dinner (at my in-laws' home nearby) but to further our common theme of long-working husbands, we were missing my husband for Easter. On Saturday he began the long journey to Australia! He will be there a week or so. Instead, some of the kids were here on Good Friday to have a small, early Easter with him. Our weather has taken a nice upward turn, beginning over Easter weekend - temps soared to 74 on Sunday! And it has remained quite spring-like, but will slip back a little again beginning tomorrow. But, winter is behind us now! Some tulips in our yard are just about to open brightly! Member Since: October 8, 2001 Posts: 155 Comments: 612

20. JanesVacation 12:13 PM GMT on April 12, 2012
My tulips are bending down toward the ground this morning because it is in the 20's. I'm afraid the fruit growers are the ones who will really suffer from this hard freeze overnight. Last week I heard the orchard with the apple blossoms on my header lost 60% of its crop. Sadly, last night's cold temperatures will likely damage much of what is left. Scheduled for a sunny and mild day later on today. Busy day at school - so I must get going! Member Since: June 21, 2008 Posts: 258 Comments: 1253

21. PugetSoundPost 5:16 PM GMT on April 12, 2012
I'm sorry to hear of your region's fruit crop and the hard freezes ruining it. A region of Washington, just east of the Cascade Mountains in the center part of the state, is a huge fruit producer for the nation as well. The main crops are apples, cherries, and pears, probably among others. Their climate is much different from ours - hot summers, cold winters. More like yours. So late season frost is always a concern there. Any farming is so risky. My sister and BIL are wheat farmers in far eastern Washington and we always are keeping a "weather-eye" out on farming weather. My husband does well on his travel - he usually has to hit the ground running when he gets somewhere, so not much "adjusting time" for him. He has not been to Saudi Arabia, but he did make a few trips in quick succession to Dubai a few years ago. One was a non-stop flight from Seattle on a 777 that was not geared for passenger travel. No amenities and only a few seats to sit on. I think he was standing most of the time! Our guys have interesting jobs and times! Member Since: October 8, 2001 Posts: 155 Comments: 612

22. JanesVacation 1:03 AM GMT on April 19, 2012
Cool days and even cooler nights lately. It has been more of a typical spring in the past few weeks. The grass sees I planted has been doing great. Hubby is going to have to mow the lawn for the first time this weekend. I offered to hire the neighbor kid again - but he says he doesn't mind. (We'll see!) Busy time of year at school. I think it is just 7 more weeks until the end of the school year. I only see the kids for computer class and library once a week...so that isn't very many more times! It's been a good school year and it has gone by very fast. Member Since: June 21, 2008 Posts: 258 Comments: 1253

23. sandiquiz 10:45 AM GMT on April 22, 2012
Happy Earth Day from the middle of England:) Hi Jane, I think you ought to change your header to Coldest April on record! Hope all is good with you :) Member Since: October 29, 2005 Posts: 252 Comments: 22418

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