By Loren Grube

Along with winter comes the shortest day of the year (Dec 21) when sunset occurs at an early 4 p.m. in South Stevens County. Now that Winter Solstice has passed, we can look forward to daylight hours gradually increasing with each month.

According to the Old Farmer’s Almanac, the chart below provides sunlight hours for each subsequent month following winter solstice. On January 21, for example, daylight hours will have increased by 41 minutes. Thanks to Daylight Savings Time (Mar 12), we will enjoy 12 hours, 16 minutes of daylight as of March 21- nearly four hours longer than three months prior.

So, hang in there, and use this chart to imagine spring gardening and more outdoor time as our days lengthen over the coming months.