I use either 36" or 48" hardware cloth. In the years to come, I’ll be going with all 48"
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I think that’s an excellent idea. Then rabbits are out of the game for the most part to.
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i poison the little bastards! 12’’ piece of pcv with a bait chunk in it placed every 50ft all around my property perimeter just before 1st snowfall.
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My redbuds are still just bare sticks. None of them have yet bloomed.
SE Mich here…
Weird winter. I have crocuses and cyclamen blooming on Feb 28th . We had a snow storm last Friday where I didn’t even get an inch. My daughters’ apartment 5 miles away got 5 inches and 10 miles in most directions around me got 8-10 or more.
The news is reporting we are experiencing the 5th snowiest March on record and its only the 8th. More snow is predicted for this Friday.
Lilac buds were swelling back in January, they seem to pause when needed in the winter when it returns to cold, though.
Scott
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I’ve had zero rabbit damage on any trees when using 36" or 48" hardware cloth. I’ve also used 36" aluminum window screen in the past with excellent results. I suppose if a person was in an area with snowshoe hares and 3’+ snowpacks, 48" may not be enough. I don’t have those issues here.
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CA has more rain and snow inbound. They could have serious flooding and overflowing reservoirs if the spring turns warm. Precipitation and atmospheric rivers developing, rain on snow - NWS San Diego - YouTube
Meanwhile Texas is having gorgeous weather. Highs near 80 and for the moment light winds. I’m going to graft apples today.
Your redbuds are a little bit ahead of here. Not sure reason your apples seem to be behind mine…different varieties plus the fact many of mine are in pots I suppose.
I left my figs outside … 31 last night…some have a foot of tender green shoots. I probably better bring them inside Friday-Tuesday…looks rather yucky in the forecast.
But, I can’t bring in all the almost-blooming viburnum, blueberries, red fleshed apple trees, etc.
Tues/Weds morning still looking frosty to freezy in the southeast. Cold high pressure is parked right over the southeast…at least according to GFS.
Miami was 91F yesterday–record high… this cool air should be a relief.
Tues-Weds of next week another massive storm hits California. Then another aims at the state at 240 hours.
Hudson Golden Gem
Early Mcintosh
My gold rush looks similar to early mc… and akane and novamac both are still looking quite dormant.
Got some activity in my apples now.
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The weather here is having a hard time deciding what to do!
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It’s OFFICIAL, the two-year La Niña has ended, with neutral conditions now and potential for El Niño by the summer or fall. The monthly discussion was just published a few minutes ago here:
https://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/analysis_monitoring/enso_advisory/ensodisc.shtml
Here’s their blog post about it:
I moved all of my fig cuttings in the ground waiting for El Niño. These are the ones that show no progress.
Sooner or later the spigot will get turned off and you’ll have nice dry weather for months.
Snowing here right now. Sticking to grass/but not cement (yet). No warmth in sight.
Polar air set to invade after the snow on Sat/Sun. That should make it as far as Florida giving them a nice cool shot as far south as Miami by late week.
Ugh. My plum is still in full bloom and I’m not sure anything will set before the freeze arrives this weekend. I keep hoping it will get pushed out farther or weaken.
sunny and in the upper 30’s the last couple days. snow went down about 18in. supposed to be like this but cloudy through the weekend. possible snow storm early next week.
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Some signs of spring are sure nice this time of the year. Other than the days getting longer, there are none here yet. It’s snowed at least a bit every day this week so far, and there’s a chance of a good bit more this weekend.
January-March in SW FL sounds better every year…
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i put a chair against the wall of the south side of the house around 2 pm. and kicked back awhile soaking up the rays. felt nice. nearly dozed off.
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Sounds nice.
We usually get a couple days sometime in April when there’s still a good snowpack but it hits the mid 50s. When it’s calm on days like that, we’ll sit on our back patio facing the afternoon sun and just soak it up. With the sun bouncing off the snow you can get a sunburn on those days 
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