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The Return of Snow-Gauge Clif

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It’s the beginning of March, and at our home in the woods this can only mean one thing—the return of Snow-Gauge Clif to keep track of the melting snow in our yard. In Maine, March marks the beginning of the end of winter, and there is always speculation about when the yard will be snow free. Enter Snow-Gauge Clif with his trusty yardstick to measure the retreating snow.

Both Clif and I have had the notion that this winter has had much less snow than last winter did. As it turned out, our notions were correct. Here, in the front yard, is Snow-Gauge Clif at the beginning of March 2019:

Here he is in 2020, about two days ago.

Backyard, 2019:

Backyard, 2020:

Fortunately, we seem to have had enough snow to protect the perennials. I remember one year when we had a scanty snow cover, and I lost almost all the plants in the backyard garden. Because even when it doesn’t snow, it’s usually very cold in Maine in Winter. Believe it or not, snow provides insulation for the plants, and uncovered plants are not a good thing.

Now, blogging friends, brace yourself for excitement for the next month or so. If the snow continues melting at this pace, then it’s highly likely that the snow will be gone by the end of March. Last year the snow was gone in mid-April. What will it be this year? Only time will tell.

So stay tuned! Each Friday will bring a picture of Snow-Gauge Clif with his trusty yardstick.

40 thoughts on “The Return of Snow-Gauge Clif”

  2. That’s funny because we always talk about having a “snow-out” (similar to ice out for the lakes) competition for our yard where we invite the neighbors to guess when our yard will be free of snow. For some reason , we are always the last ones to still have snow.

  4. That’s a big difference! Our backyard has nearly all melted already and the shadier front yard has a couple inches. If the warm temps continue, we may be snow-free about a week earlier than the previous record of mid-March. When we first moved here 30 years ago, the average was mid-April. A big difference, indeed.

  13. It has been a mild winter here too with only a few flakes of snow – which may prove to be famous last words! I am not sure how I would like living with the extremes of temperature you get. One of the things I am enjoying about reading blogs is hearing how you all cope with very different conditions from mine. I shall look forward to the updates and hope your plants have survived.

    1. I, too, enjoy reading about places with very different conditions from mine. Fascinating! As for the extremes of temperatures…I was born in Maine and have lived in Maine for most of my life. To me, the extremes seem normal. 😉

    1. The one we are in right now—March marches on. But this year, between the politics and the virus, everything feels topsy-turvy, and March’s peak ugliness hasn’t bothered me as much as it usually does.

  16. This is such a cool idea for a post series, Laurie. I look forward to following along. We get very little snow on Vancouver Island and our grass stays green all winter long. That being said, just when we least expect it…we usually get some snow in March. I’m still hopeful that this year will be different as many neighbours are already wearing shorts! 😀

  18. Looking forward to the photos.
    We have rain and rain and rain.
    Though there was a day or just a half in between with sunshine.
    IT’s good to see sun shine in your yard. Enjoy Laurie.

  19. We have a few small snowbanks remaining near the deck, but everything else has melted!🙂 Let’s hope everything continues to melt and the patio furniture is out in early April!😁

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