Can I just say that seasons are over-rated? No really, I've been thinking it over. Winter? Snow. Ick. Spring? Sure, there are pretty flowers and the occasional sunny sky under which these fleeting beauties can be enjoyed, but primarily it is grey and rainy. Ick with a side of tease. Autumn? Again, there is a wealth of beauty in autumn leaves, but primarily it's gray with the knowledge of snow just around the corner. Ick. Then there is summer, that glorious time when it is warm and sunny almost daily. It's also the time when you get heat stroke.
Upon hearing of my move to Virginia from Florida, people are quick to gush about The Seasons as if these cyclical events are some kind of Bieberish heartthrob shooting them come-hither glances and flirty winks. To all of these people, I would like to take this opportunity to say, "Hey buddy! Florida has seasons too!!"
Florida Spring: Florida spring takes place from about February to May. It is marked by the return of robins (sound familiar, you northern season enthusiasts??), peaks with the blooming of jasmine and orange blossoms, and ends with temperatures in the 90s. It is a fantastic season, even though it contains the hated Spring Break tourist invasion.
Florida Summer: Florida summers are intense. I won't deny that. And they're long. Ranging from May (and some years April) through October, it is marked by intense sun and heat broken up by intense rain and intensely humid nights. Temperatures rarely drop much below 80. I know that even natives complain about the relentlessly sweltering conditions, but hear me out. Florida summers are awesome. They weed out the weak. They offer awesome moments of reprieve, like walking into cold air conditioning, or sitting in the shade of a tiki bar with a frozen drink. Since you're never too far from a beach, you have breezes and water and the excuse to wear very little clothing and look at others wearing very little clothing (for better or worse). AND! There's always the threat of a hurricane coming and with it the hopes of a good hurricane party! Florida summer isn't for the weak, but it rocks my socks!
Florida Fall: This one is oft overlooked, but anyone who has lived in Florida for any length of time knows what I'm talking about here. The Florida autumn starts in October and ends in December. The fever of summer breaks and the humidity wanes if the heat doesn't. The most spectacular part of this season is, for a few brief weeks, the tourists go home and the snow birds have yet to arrive. The beaches are quiet and traffic is noticeably less stupid. I think this may be my favorite of the Florida seasons.
Florida Winter: January makes up the whole of the Florida winter. However, this is a bit of misinformation since typically winter lasts about a week or so. Temperatures dip down below freezing for a few minutes in the wee hours of the morning before jumping back up to the 60s or even 70s. Sometimes, there is an odd couple days when the temperatures stay very low during the day, but years can go by without that ever happening. The good thing about Florida winters is they are short enough and mild enough to be appreciated by the shivering locals. The memory of heat is never far from the Floridian's mind, so even at its most bitter, the Florida Winter is a welcomed reprieve from the ever increasing tropical scorching to come.
As I look out the window at the low slung grey ripples of cloud and the patches of intermittent white where sunbeams taunt but never permeate, I remember what the little neighbor girl said the other day while observing similar conditions... "WOW! It's REALLY sunny out!" With one grey, chilly, rainy day after another, I find myself missing my Florida home all the more. At least I have the flowers, making their showy, if not vulgar display of vibrant color to add a little zazz to my day, even if it is only through the window.
Lemon trees. Baby lemon trees in pots. Inside. Not only nice for you and your cooking but also a nice spot for BiggieSmall's potty-time (lol) when he needs a change of scene.
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