I don’t think I’ve lived through a season that was considered by most to be ‘normal’. There are always swings and anomalies, dotted by snow storms and hurricanes - and I live by the water. And whereas 'why’s cannot be changed, as a grower I’m compelled to collect tools and methods for ‘what to do when’, because ‘when’ happens. Whatcha gonna do when ‘when’ happens?
I’ve gleaned much info on this forum from the '**when’**s that happened to others. It is always unexpected. I offered one possible remedy earlier in this post that I happened to see at a garden center. Not tried it, but might just to see if it would work. Diluted ammonia is another option I’d try if faced with frost on blooms. Not as huge a loss for me as it would be for others here, but my nagging curiosity won’t let me ignore it. Good to know we have options to try at least.
It is a relative question and if the swings are becoming greater it is crucial. It is too early yet to evaluate whether climate change is already making fruit growing more difficult but I have to admit I’m pessimistic. The last two winters were so much different than anything in the historical record as far a being so mild, that it is hard not to think that we may be in for more difficult conditions than in the previous couple of centuries. Not primarily because of recent anomalies in my region, but changes globally.
I absolutely agree with your statement and have always said that a “normal” season is the rarest of weather events and what most on this forum fruitlessly await. Normal is a misnomer when applied to weather as it’s really the mean between normal swings on both sides. The same thing for “average” intelligence. Technically half of Americans have less than average intelligence, but at least with people we round it out so half (or a quarter) on one side and half on the other get lumped together in the “average” category. Except, of course, when we are talking about our own children.
Have patience. Soda companies only started the conversion to metric system 30 something years ago and I think major drug dealers deal in kilograms so there is progress☺ Perhaps in 30 more years we’ll measure snow in cm. I got about 35 cm of snow. Too bad I had to use Google to figure that out.