What’s the cliche — “It took an act of Congress”? While Congress hasn’t done much lately, through the years there has been agreement to shift the way the nation’s mornings and late afternoons are timed through the changing year. The shift this weekend from Standard Time to Daylight Saving Time is still for the moment an unusually nonpartisan issue. Congress has been tweaking with the shift in time for at least 90 years.

Temperature: Precip.

Day Max. Min. Inches.

Fº Fº

March 5 36 31 .16*

March 6 38 31 .00

March 7 52 32 .00

March 8 55 35 .00

March 9 59 32 .00

March 10 53 29 .00

March 11 52 32 .00

*Melted Precipitation

By LYNNE IRONS

Winter Walk

Regardless of the season, the Polly Hill Arboretum in West Tisbury always offers something of interest to visitors. The arboretum’s free winter walk series continues tomorrow, March 13, with a guided tour of the grounds as the signs of spring begin to creep into view: buds are swelling, early bulbs are blooming, and birds are returning.

The tour starts at 10 a.m. and runs for a little over an hour. Meet at the visitor center, dressed for the weather. For details, call 508-693-9426.

By LYNNE IRONS

It’s happened again. I squandered many perfectly decent days this winter and never cut back some of the perennial beds. Now, snowdops and crocuses are pushing up through the debris. I am in the proverbial dilemma. Do I rake now and risk damaging the bulbs, or throw some mulch on the entire situation and call it a day?

North Neck Hike