[at-l] Spring in NH

[Art Cloutman]

There is still lots of snow in the mountains and many of the ski 
areas are still open but spring is definitely on the way.  Gunstock 
is closed for the season because so many of its employees have other 
seasonal jobs.  Many are working at marinas getting ready for the 
summer boat business even though most of the lakes have a mushy 
covering of ice.  Most nights the temps have dropped into the lower 
20's so the lakes refreeze but an hour or so of morning sun turns it 
back to mush.  Most snowmobile trails are closed.  The good news is 
that the warm up has been very gradual with little rain.  That means 
the snow melt has not caused any major flooding yet.   Also, since 
the ground has been covered with snow since early December the ground 
did not freeze very deep so the water from melting snow is able to 
sink into the ground slowly where it will gradually help replenish 
the water supply.

As the snow slowly melts away from my lawns I have been raking them 
to get them to green up and to get rid of the tremendous amount of 
winter debris.  Lots of branches, pine needles, leaves and sand - 
dumed on the icey driveway - must be removed.  I want to get rid of 
it as quickly as I can because it will only be a few days before the 
black flies will begin to swarm in huge masses.  There is also a snow 
induced mildew that grows on the surface of the lawns that can be 
raked away.  Since the ground did not freeze too deeply, grubs have 
been able to stay closer to the surface.  This has attracted mole 
which have made hundreds of feet of tunnels which I mus flatten and 
water to get the grass to grow again.

The mountains are beautiful.  It is amazing to watch the changes as 
the snow melts and the mountains change color from white to brown and 
green.


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Life is Good!!!
Art Cloutman