Autumn
Known as the 'Evergreen' state, we also have a healthy share of deciduous trees and they trumpet their colors come autumn. The turning colors of alders and cottonwoods accent fall's crisp blue skies. Morning breaths come in smoky puffs and we break out the mittens and scarves.

Winter
One can hardly think about the Pacific Northwest without the image of umbrellas and slickers coming to mind. Fidalgo Island however is spared the drumbeat of wetness that affects the Seattle area. They say it lies in the "banana belt" because of its position in the rainshadow of a large body of land—Canada's Vancouver Island.

As drenching pacific storms march westward, they spill their heavy cargo first on the western face of Vancouver Island. Having shed their wet wrath, it leaves only a fizzle for lands that come after. Residents of Fidalgo Island therefore experience an average annual rainfall of 26 inches compared to Seattle's 38.

Winter winds urge us all inside; they flatten life's pace as we catch up on reading and handwork and experiment with hot soup recipes. The winds give clouded skies a complex broken texture unlike the flat gray ceiling of areas farther south.

Late December or early January brings snows that melt away hastily—too soon for recreation, too slowly for convenience. 

Spring
Spring bursts forth with clean, sharp blue skies. The blaze of rhododendron blooms reminds our winter-weary eyes about color.

Summer
Summers in the area are unforgettable. Residents express regret when their own planned vacations take them away from the summer's grandness. Temperatures in the 70's and low 80's are average. The northerly latitude of 48 degrees ensures plentiful hours of light and gives rise to summer sunsets that flame skies for hours.

Yearly Temperatures

	Low	High
January	33	44
February	34	48
March	37	53
April	41	61
May	46	67
June	50	71
July	52	75
August	53	75
September	50	70
October	45	61
November	39	51
December	36	46