The difference a year makes

I went outside yesterday afternoon to rake up snow mess and have a look around. The garden really took off during that unseasonably warm January, but has been frozen in time ever since.

The ground is hard and dry instead of moist and soft.  Weird. I actually watered the perennials in pots-- those that survived the freeze.

Looking back at previous pictures, this is what it typically looks like around here by the middle of the March.  We have a long ways to go to catch up...

Cliff Mass put this chart on his blog showing the relative humidity around the country this week.  Seattle was lower than anywhere, even Palm Springs and Las Vegas.  At 24% Seattle beat them all for dry air...no one was even close.  The good news is rain is finally back in the forecast.  Cold rain, but a step in the right direction.