ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, February 28, 1997 TAG: 9702280056
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: EMILY DUNNE STAFF WRITER
THURSDAY'S HIGH was a balmy 70; not counting today, mild temperatures are likely to continue at least through the weekend.
This month's unseasonably warm weather reached a peak of 70 degrees Thursday, turning cabin fever to spring fever for Roanoke Valley residents.
Susan Enright and Amy Collins, both of Roanoke, took advantage of the warm snap by taking their daughters on a picnic at Longwood Park in Salem.
"It's nice, especially when you have kids that have been cooped up in the house all winter," Enright said as 3-year-old best friends Darby Enright and Emily Collins climbed on the jungle gym, seemingly unaware of the intermittent drizzle.
It looks as if the warm spell will last at least through the weekend, after a little dip into the 50s today. Although showers are likely, expect a high of about 60 on Saturday and temperatures in the mid-60s on Sunday - an unusual forecast for the first weekend in March.
According to data from the National Weather Service in Blacksburg, from 1952 to 1995, the average high temperature for February 27 in Roanoke was 47, with an average low of 25.
Chuck Johnston, manager of Salem Municipal Golf Course, said the warmer weather has been good for business. "Compared to last January and February, we're ahead for sure," he said. "It's the same bunch of players, but they're coming out more."
Some golfers, he said, have even complained of soreness brought on by playing more holes than usual in their rush to get in more practice before the weather turns cold again.
If the warmer weather makes you crave ice cream, you're not alone. Shane Amburgey, general manager of Katie's Ice Cream and Chocolates of Roanoke, said the mild winter has helped sales considerably. "Our sales have been up as high as 60 percent from last year," he said.
Business has also increased at Baskin-Robbins 31 Ice Cream at Towers Mall, where owner Paul Meeker said this week's sales have been about double what they were earlier in the month.
And if you've got a green thumb, the weather may have you out planting earlier than usual this year. The warm spell has been good for business at Walter's Greenhouse, which has opened its stand on the Roanoke City Market a little earlier.
"Normally, we come out once or twice in February, but we've been out about six days this year," said Chris Elwell, who was running the stand Thursday. "It's feeling like spring again."
The greenhouse's top sellers so far: pansies, primroses and herbs.
"People are still worried about freezing, but a lot want a little bit of spring," said Elwell, explaining the greenhouse's early sales.
Jeane Blevins of Salem, who bought pansies Thursday, said she started her gardening a few weeks ahead of schedule.
"We've already tilled the garden, getting it ready to plant," she said.
Gardening equipment sales are up, too, according to Keith Tribble, manager of Lowe's of Roanoke. "There has been increased activity in our garden center," he said. "We've been selling lawn mowers earlier."
Robert Peckham and his wife, Elizabeth, both master gardener trainees at the Virginia Tech Extension Service, said the warm weather can be deceiving. They recommend waiting until the end of April to plant.
"Although the air temperature is mild, the conditions for planting aren't there," Robert said while buying herbs on the Market. "The soil is too wet.''
And just what effect will the warm snap have on plants?
"Some plants that are early-spring bloomers may not bloom as well this year," said John Arbogast of the Virginia Tech Extension Service. "But there shouldn't be a loss of plant life, because we had a good fall, a good change of seasons when plants were able to get acclimated."
LENGTH: Medium: 76 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: ROGER HART STAFF. 1. Steve Sutherland (left) and Frankby CNBRichards walk the Salem Municipal Golf Course on Thursday, enjoying
the warm weather and a chance to play some shirtsleeves golf. 2.
Elizabeth Peckham of Botetourt County smells some herbs on the City
Market. color.