I’m looking for some way to get my head around the high temperatures we have had for the past 7 days. I’m sure there is a meteorological explanation, but even the weather forecasters seem to be surprised by a heatwave in March that feels more like June or July, so I’m going back to February 2 when the official groundhog, Punxsutawney Phil, predicted six more weeks of winter, but the Illinois groundhog predicted an early spring. We skipped spring, however, and went straight to summer.

Then I wonder if we are seeing what climatologists predicted if the planet continued to warm at its present rate: eight months of summer.

Of course this is Chicago and we could still have snow in April. But it doesn’t look like we’re going to get any more in March.

Downy Woodpecker in my yard - two weeks ago!

At this rate, the City can’t plant bald cypress fast enough.

With all this heat, we could really use some rain. I caught this American Robin refreshing himself in the birdbath this afternoon.

Last week, this crow was panting, even with a whole lake nearby.

About this time of year, the trees would be showing buds, but not bursting. From the looks of it, my flowering crabapple will be flowering tomorrow.

And my redbud is, well, budding.

And whatever this is that planted itself by the side of the house, it’s blooming.

It was nice to open the windows today, at least until it got too hot. I bought the last fan at the hardware store this afternoon. And two pairs of sandals online…