Will the groundhog see his shadow?

that garden pest always sees it's shadow!!!

I certainly hope not! Even if Florida, this winter has gone on too long.

This year though, I'll be among the first to know! Phil will be texting me his predictions tomorrow. Not sure how he gets his little paws to press the right keys though. Maybe he has an Admin Assistant?

I feel optimistic just knowing that Groundhog Day is tomorrow! Before you know it, we'll be flippin' the calendar over to March & running the clocks ahead an hour. Time to start exercising more, or I'll be all sore achy muscles from the Spring gardening chores. I'm looking forward to seeing the crocus bloom that I planted last Fall. I've printed out a February calendar with the sunrise & sunset times. The daylight hours will be 11 1/2 by the last day of February. We're getting closer to the Spring equinox which will occur on March 20 at 17:32 UTC. (I looked it up.) Almost time to start growing the tomato and pepper plants.

Spring is on the way!! Thats my story and I am sticking to it!

makes no difference to me 6 weeks is 6 weeks no matter how we look at it. I am so tired of cold, snow and more cold.

I need another choice -- I don't think the groundhogs will come out of hibernation here for another 6 weeks!

They'll wake up Phil anyway.

It has been cloudy most of Jan. but warmer than normal, so can't complain too much. We see the sun a few minutes some afternoons.

I am soaking a coir brick in anticipation of planting seeds very soon

Donna

Assuming we HAD groundhogs here, which we don't, the poor baby would not have a chance of seeing his shadow! We're getting another 2 inches this afternoon and there is no indication it's going to get better any time soon!

With all the lights and cameras on him, he's going to see his shadow.

There is panic in the streets - not enough snow for some of the Olympic venues. I can't remember when there was last frost on the ground and my palm seedlings are popping up all over the garden. Cloudy and rainy so Mr Groundhog won't see his shadow and it's his time to come out of hibernation.

Dag-nabbit groundhog here better run around as if it were his last day on earth - or it may be.

The groundhog thing is an urban myth. Now if a mountain lion sees a groundhog and hides, well THAT twould be a whole nother bag of apples!

HA! - please get video on that one!

I chose "what does a groundhog have to do with the weather?" Yes, I know the legend, but I also know that it is sooo bogus. Has anyone ever seen spring in PA start (and hang on) on February 2?

I think our local groundhog is bipolar. Inside one week, out and about the next, then in, then out, ...

I said he will see his shadow, but actually it all depends on what time of day he comes out. We had a combination of sunny and overcast skies throughout the day.

I voted for wishful thinking....spring is not the way....

Much like the balloon winds dparsons? Back and forth; twixt and tween?

OK This rat thing has me going, First off as Marilynbeth says, SHUT OFF THE LIGHTS! Second, Why does this rat have air conditioning in the summer & heat in the winter when lots of people don't even have food? Just my zero cents:)Anita

I've been having Spring Fever for days now, It can't be Spring here soon enough!

Darn those groundhogs! Always 'predicting 6 more weeks of Winter'!

We can't be that lucky to get Spring here that early anyway.

Rats!!!! lol

That would be pretty early for spring actually. What's 6 more weeks? I'm sure some of your winters typically last longer than that.

I voted for early spring. I hate cold weather, and am ready for the heat. I can cool off easier than I can warm up! This has been the coldest winter we have had for more than a decade.

Yep, balloon winds dahlianut. Lots of wind.

Annette -- I too am looking forward to spring, although I am opposite you -- I find it much easier to warm up than cool down, and really can't abide temps much over 80 (something in the way distant past at this point...)

The ground hogs here are smart and choosing to sleep in . Too cold to get out of bed just to go back and take a nap.
I on the other hand start my winter sowing on groundhog day and look forward to spring.
By-the -way if you don't like his prediction BBQ groundhog is very delicious.

Im going with Genaral Lee In Georgia. He said spring is coming early.

Wish I knew what a ground hog is. Is it the same as a hedgehog?

Pat

Pat G, I haven't seen one either, nor do I know the significance of groundhog day or watching his shadow - perhaps someone could explain it for us. (I am British)

Today's article on DG has some pictures and some information.
It can explain better than I

well today ours didn't see his and I'm thrilled as I want winter to be on its way out....

Janet

I'm not sure if the groundhog here saw his shadow, but we won't have 6 more weeks of winter, regardless. (Yes, I'm spoiled!) Here is a photo of a groundhog, though... (not mine, but it has a Creative Commons license, so it's ok to use.) They're cute little guys when they aren't eating your garden.

Go to the Wildlife forum to see the Yellow-bellied groundhog photos that I posted today.;-)

Margaret

Marylyn,

Love that cute pic of the groundhog. Glad we don't have any of those scoundrels here. Well, now it is official. No one saw there shadow here today as it rained all day long.

Joy, I think I know what happened to your winter!! It showed up HERE, in Houston!!! We had 7 nights in a row of mid to low twenties, reducing everything in my front garden to hanging black shreds and I walk out my front door to be greeted by the smell of dying vegetation, ugh! This only comes along very seldom for us. We usually stay green throughout the winter. Our ground never freezes so most of these plants will come back from the root but it will be like starting all over. 12 foot tall Brugmansias, 10 foot Firespike, ginger, impatiens, firecracker fern, iresine, begonias, Mexican heather, hypoestes, tradescantia, wedelia...all dead. The survivors were azaleas, roses, irises, Hippeastrum, jasmines, chrysanthemums, lettuces and winter root veggies. I think that at least up North, freezing is expected so you probably dont try to grow a lot of the tropicals that we do. We go along for 10 to 15 years and then...Gotcha!!! We lose almost everything. Azaleas bloom here in February so at least that is just around the corner and the bare landscape revealed all the tools Ive "lost" over the years. How's that for looking on the bright side? Marty

You know Marty, I think you're right. Those tempts you just described would be normal for here at this this time of the year. We don't usually stay that cold for long, but we often have at least a light frost over night. And that's been pretty much non-existent this year too. The plants you lost are the same plants I have to grow in pots and store in a frost free area every winter. They won't make it til spring if I don't, or if I'm lucky and they do, like you say, they have to start all over again. Now I hope the mix up doesn't continue and we get your summer heat and you get our gray skies and rain until July.
Actually, we haven't been experiencing that so bad for a number of years now either! ;-)

Joy

phew, here its 100+ degrees, definitely not cold!!!
isaac