From summer fun to spring surprises in Ohio

Most children growing up love the summer season. They play outside, play in the sandbox, wear shorts and go barefoot. A lot of families take vacations, go visit relatives and spend a few days at the beach, where they play in the ocean. For children, the summer season is three glorious months of fun.

For adults, the summer season is the time for vacations, of course, but also the time when lawns must be mowed, gardens planted, bushes trimmed and the outside of their houses checked over for any repairs needed. While some of those outside chores are enjoyed by many homeowners, they're dreaded in some neighborhoods.

Years ago one of our neighbors decided to redo his entire lawn and plantings. For three months our neighborhood was exposed to every sound of mowing and digging by heavy machinery. By summer’s end, that man’s house sat on the most beautiful lawn surrounded by gorgeous gardens. Every neighbor and house was jealous.

This year in March, we had some lovely warm weather followed by some unlovely freezing-cold weather. On the good days, trees began to sprout their leaves, and occasionally, flower buds began to show life with leaves and buds. But before those little buds and tiny leaves could open, the temperature would drop into the 30s and too often below the 30s. The ambitions of the buds and leaves were put off until they felt welcomed.

The weather in Ohio cannot be trusted to abide by the season’s name. For instance, we are currently living in April, which is known as a spring month, where the temperature dropped very low last night and has been chilly all day.

The weather report for this spring month calls for heavy snow this morning, which will grow lighter as the afternoon approaches. By noon temperatures will be in the 40s, and only by late afternoon will temperatures crawl into the 50s. The native-born and raised Ohioans are not surprised by the seasons here. They don’t like it, but they seem content enough to endure.

If you are native-born and raised, let us know your feelings about the Ohio seasons. Perhaps if Mother Nature hears enough moans and groans about the seasons, she will take charge and bring every season up to great. That may work. But I wouldn’t bet money on it.

Laura Moore can be emailed at lehmoore1@gmail.com.