Last winter was the coldest we’ve had in forty years, but even
those of us who can’t remember the winter of 1971-1972 will be
quick to argue that the winter we experienced last year packed a
wallop. The snow seemed relentless, the amounts were
unprecedented, the temperatures near unbearable and the whole
season stretched well into calendar spring. We in Essex County, the
banana belt of Canada, were more than anxious to feel the warmth of
the sun and see the thermometers read above zero degrees. By late
April we were already on the lookout for garden centers and shopping
for bathing suits in anticipation of the heat to come. As it turned out,
the eager plants were as disappointed as we were and our bathing
suits didn't see water as often as planned. In summary, the summer
of 2014 was the summer that snoozed. The transition from winter to
spring provided many false starts while summer brought the need
for air conditioning only on a handful of days. Rain visited more
often than expected and the amounts negated the necessity of having
to water our lawns and some had to mop up water from our
basements.
Having four distinct seasons is often seen as a welcome benefit to
living in our part of the world. Those that move to more tropical
climates claim to miss the variety. Most of us feel comforted by the
regularity of the changing landscape and the knowledge that in
another 12 months we can revisit all the benefits of our favourite
season again. Enter climate change.
Story and photos by Eva Antonel