Very early spring

 I was delighted to be able to drive out to Magnolia Gardens this past Sunday for a nice walk in just about perfect conditions — temps in the pleasant 50s and mellow, late afternoon sunny blue skies —  just a perfect day, the kind where you feel grateful to be alive.  With my ever-ready camera, I recorded signs of a very early Spring here in Charleston.   It’s not surprising since we had such a warm January.  Many of our trees are leafing out now that would not be doing so until late February or early March, such as the red maples in town and Japanese magnolias.   I love seeing all this, but it is rather discomfiting also to realize that these are the effects of human-altered climate change and global warming.   2012 was the warmest year on record in the U.S.   So while I exult in the arrival of Spring in early February instead of later in the month, I also am aware of how much warmer our planet is and that the consequences of this up the road will be dire.  I think from what I have read that we have passed the tipping point.  It’s too late to go back and stabilize CO2 levels in the atmosphere.  

I know I should not dwell on these thoughts, but I have always been so sensitized to changes in the environment, especially seasonal ones, and I miss the days when we had more normal seasons and weather.   I guess I am really thinking that would be back in my childhood and growing up years in the 50s and 60s.  I fear for what we have done to our earth in the name of exploiting resources, overpopulation, pollution of our air and water, and and indifference to the type of world future generations will inhabit.  

Right now, though, I will do  what I can to minimize my impact, although the most effective and yet unrealistic things at this point would be to have solar panels on the roof and greatly diminish our need for electricity on the grid.  Our power bill is exorbitant in winter, partly because we have to keep the house so warm for my elderly mother.   Not much I can do about that.

Still, I am savoring this week of cool, sometimes even a bit cold, late winter/early spring weather here in Charleston.  The high clouds have been spectacular.  As usual, each day there are clouds in the sky, I am always looking up into the sky.    From the photo set here, you can see that the azaleas and daffodils are starting to arrive and cheer us with their always beautiful displays.

A photo set:  Very early spring:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/camas/sets/72157632702138236/