It was three weeks ago Thursday when three Canadian rodents were pulled from their slumber to predict when we could expect an end to winter. From Shubenacadie Sam in Nova Scotia to our own Wiarton Willie, it seems the groundhogs were all on the same page this year -we can expect snow and cold through mid-March.

It was an easy prediction, if you ask me. I had this hunch all along that we’d still be facing winter conditions right up until Feb. 2 plus six weeks -and beyond. I find the groundhogs’ accuracy is sometimes lacking.

One thing we can be sure of is the anticipation of all those in the gardening world. As seed catalogues arrive in the mail, gardeners eagerly thumb through the glossy pages wishing for an early spring. They want to get their hands dirty in the warm spring earth, and I can’t say that I blame them.

For the full article: http://www.thepeterboroughexaminer.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=2463640

From the Peterborough Examiner- February 24, 2010