The vernal equinox is Monday, March 20 (today) at 21:24 UTC which is 5:24 p.m. EDT.
Of course, for those of following meteorological seasons, Spring began March 1st. And, as I am fond of saying, for those of us living here in Connecticut, we have no spring–just winter and July. We’ll see if the predictions of a warm spring will play out again this year (which would be lovely since it does happen so rarely). Of course, the predictions are also for an extra warm summer–and I will take that as well. Heat never bothers me, but I am a baby about the cold.
Still for all our writing and predicting and talking about it, weather is one thing that we absolutely cannot do one thing about. We can try to plant sustainably with natives to survive the variables that nature produces, but we cannot control those variables.
We can try to extend our seasons–in both the spring and the fall–with any number of measures like floating row covers, cloches, “wall-o-waters,” and other “mechanical” devices that cover or otherwise insulate our tender plants from temperatures that they otherwise would object to.
Or we can get less garden-y and just throw a sheet, towel or whatever is to hand over a container or a large potted plant if frost threatens.
Or, we can throw up our hands and say, okay, season’s over–let nature do its thing (which is generally my approach!) By the time fall comes, I am more than ready to tend to my overflowing collection of house plants–but I do understand not everyone feels that way.
But isn’t that what’s best about gardening–that we don’t all have to do it the same way?
Gardendaze 
This is the most wintry winter that I can ever remember here! I can see why spring is such a popular season in other climates!
And this is the warmest winter we have had in my recent memory–and I still really can’t wait for it to be over! But I know that it’s nothing compared to the misery that California is getting this year. It has been a horror show for people out there
Yes, but only because we are not accustomed to it. It must seem silly to those in other climates. A minor tornado landed in Carpinteria on Tuesday, and another minor tornado landed in Montebello yesterday. They were not bad, but could have been dangerous to those who did not get to shelter because they did not know what they were.
I did see the news about the tornado in Montebello. It’s certainly bad to those who have property to clean up. It is unreal what’s happening to California this year–but to those who are living through it, I am sure it feels like the nightmare that won’t end.
Realistically, most of us are fine. Individual cities here are more populous than entire states elsewhere; and California is as big as much of the East Coast. It is impossible for strange weather to happen in California without affecting someone or several thousands of someones.
Whenever I am lecturing and talking about how weird it is that we have 3 distinct zones here in Connecticut, I always remark that it is very unusual for such a small state to have so much “weather ” in such a small space and then I add that I can’t imagine what it would be like to garden in a state with much more space like Texas. Someplace even larger, like California, is even more confusing with things like chaparral climate and everything. I know that I could learn but it would be quite the challenge!
My former home garden had about as many climate zones as Connecticut. It was less than ten acres, but was four hundred feet higher to the east than in the west, and included riparian, chaparral and redwood forest climates. The farm as well as where I work here each have even more climates. Geology is more relevant than area. Oklahoma has about as many climates as Connecticut. Texas likely has no more climates than a few counties around the San Francisco Bay. That is why the entertainment industry started in Niles and then relocated to Hollywood. There is so much diversity of climates and associated scenery within minimal driving distance.
And let’s not even begin thinking about microclimates!
That is how some who are unfamiliar with our climates would describe our climates; but of course, there are microclimates within even these climates, just like anywhere else.