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Chilly this morning, temperature after sunrise was 40. But it is going to warm up. High today of 67 with a low of 44. Looks like the next 10 days the temperature will just get warmer, and no moisture predicted. Fall starts next week, so it looks good, no frost yet. I have mums, fall planting bulbs, succulents, house plants for your gardening needs. I will be here tomorrow Saturday if that helps with you coming to get plants. But I will be closed on Sunday.
I sometimes wonder why I am in the climate business. According to folklore, those leaves you have to rake up will tell you all you need to know about winter. Are your chrysanthemums really pretty? Get out the mittens. The birds and bees are not only into living apparently, they are weather forecasters as well.
Here is a sample of rodent wisdom: Squirrels gathering nuts in a flurry, Will cause snow to gather in a hurry.
In addition, a tough winter is ahead if squirrels’ tails are very bushy. (Are you polishing the snow shovel yet?)
Weather folklore claims squirrels know about winter! Source: National Park Service
Birds and bees are giving you hints as well. When birds migrate early or bees build their nests high in the trees, the winter is going to be a Old Farmer's Almanac
Did you know that bird behavior can help us predict the weather? Closely observe nature and your feathered friends—and you might be surprised by what you learn!
Look up one of these days. Watch birds in flight. Birds flying high in the sky usually indicate fair weather. As the adage goes …
Hawks flying high means a clear sky. When they fly low, prepare for a blow.
Geese fly higher in fair weather than in foul.
Air pressure does indeed affect birds. For example, swallows have sensitive ears; when the barometric pressure drops, they fly as close to the ground as possible, where air density is greatest. Generally, low-flying birds are signs of rain; high flyers indicate fair weather.
Migrating birds can fly more easily in dense, high pressure conditions. Therefore, geese may fly high when a high pressure system moves to the area. High pressure systems are associated with fair weather.
Birds tend to stop flying and take refuge at the coast if a storm is coming. They’ll also fly low to avoid the discomfort of the falling air pressure.
When seagulls fly inland, expect a storm.
When fowls roost in daytime, expect rain.
Petrels gathering under the stern of a ship indicates bad weather.
Birds tend to get very quiet before a big storm. If you’ve ever been walking in the woods before a storm, the natural world is eerily silent! Birds also sing if the weather is improving.
Birds singing in the rain indicates fair weather approaching.
Here are more bird proverbs and prognostics. Enjoy!
If crows fly in pairs, expect fine weather; a crow flying alone is a sign of foul weather.
The whiteness of a goose’s breastbone indicates the kind of winter: A red of dark-spotted bone means a cold and stormy winter; few or light-colored spots mean a mild winter.
Partridges drumming in the fall means a mild and open winter.
When domestic geese walk east and fly west, expect cold weather.
If birds in the autumn grow tame, the winter will be too cold for game.
When the rooster goes crowing to bed, he will rise with watery head.
When the swallow’s nest is high, the summer is very dry. When the swallow buildeth low, you can safely reap and sow.
See how insects predict weather. A narrow band of brown on a woolly caterpillar means the same thing.
Plants are in the weather business as well. When leaves drop early, autumn and winter will be mild; but if they fall late, winter will be severe. Other signs of a bad winter are Flowers blooming in late autumn, Cornhusks are thick and tight, Apple skins are tough, Onion skins are tough and Berries and nuts are plentiful. (That might be why the squirrels are so busy.)
Some of these are based on old-fashioned observation. La Niñas tend to be dry in summer and cold in winter, so if birds leave early, the leaves fall quickly, onions and apples are tough, and caterpillars are short, it may be due to the La Niña drought. A miserable La Niña winter will follow.
Some folklore is warning of a cold La Niña winter.
Other folklore is just based on the idea that you shouldn’t let your guard down. Lots of berries, nuts and flowers may be the sign of a lovely warm November. However, look out, winter will probably be awful.
As for the squirrels—ignore them. They’re just squirrelly!
I sometimes wonder why I am in the climate business. According to folklore, those leaves you have to rake up will tell you all you need to know about winter. Are your chrysanthemums really pretty? Get out the mittens. The birds and bees are not only into living apparently, they are weather forecasters as well.
Here is a sample of rodent wisdom: Squirrels gathering nuts in a flurry, Will cause snow to gather in a hurry.
In addition, a tough winter is ahead if squirrels’ tails are very bushy. (Are you polishing the snow shovel yet?)
Weather folklore claims squirrels know about winter! Source: National Park Service
Birds and bees are giving you hints as well. When birds migrate early or bees build their nests high in the trees, the winter is going to be a Old Farmer's Almanac
Did you know that bird behavior can help us predict the weather? Closely observe nature and your feathered friends—and you might be surprised by what you learn!
Look up one of these days. Watch birds in flight. Birds flying high in the sky usually indicate fair weather. As the adage goes …
Hawks flying high means a clear sky. When they fly low, prepare for a blow.
Geese fly higher in fair weather than in foul.
Air pressure does indeed affect birds. For example, swallows have sensitive ears; when the barometric pressure drops, they fly as close to the ground as possible, where air density is greatest. Generally, low-flying birds are signs of rain; high flyers indicate fair weather.
Migrating birds can fly more easily in dense, high pressure conditions. Therefore, geese may fly high when a high pressure system moves to the area. High pressure systems are associated with fair weather.
Birds tend to stop flying and take refuge at the coast if a storm is coming. They’ll also fly low to avoid the discomfort of the falling air pressure.
When seagulls fly inland, expect a storm.
When fowls roost in daytime, expect rain.
Petrels gathering under the stern of a ship indicates bad weather.
Birds tend to get very quiet before a big storm. If you’ve ever been walking in the woods before a storm, the natural world is eerily silent! Birds also sing if the weather is improving.
Birds singing in the rain indicates fair weather approaching.
Here are more bird proverbs and prognostics. Enjoy!
If crows fly in pairs, expect fine weather; a crow flying alone is a sign of foul weather.
The whiteness of a goose’s breastbone indicates the kind of winter: A red of dark-spotted bone means a cold and stormy winter; few or light-colored spots mean a mild winter.
Partridges drumming in the fall means a mild and open winter.
When domestic geese walk east and fly west, expect cold weather.
If birds in the autumn grow tame, the winter will be too cold for game.
When the rooster goes crowing to bed, he will rise with watery head.
When the swallow’s nest is high, the summer is very dry. When the swallow buildeth low, you can safely reap and sow.
See how insects predict weather. A narrow band of brown on a woolly caterpillar means the same thing.
Plants are in the weather business as well. When leaves drop early, autumn and winter will be mild; but if they fall late, winter will be severe. Other signs of a bad winter are Flowers blooming in late autumn, Cornhusks are thick and tight, Apple skins are tough, Onion skins are tough and Berries and nuts are plentiful. (That might be why the squirrels are so busy.)
Some of these are based on old-fashioned observation. La Niñas tend to be dry in summer and cold in winter, so if birds leave early, the leaves fall quickly, onions and apples are tough, and caterpillars are short, it may be due to the La Niña drought. A miserable La Niña winter will follow.
Some folklore is warning of a cold La Niña winter.
Other folklore is just based on the idea that you shouldn’t let your guard down. Lots of berries, nuts and flowers may be the sign of a lovely warm November. However, look out, winter will probably be awful.
As for the squirrels—ignore them. They’re just squirrelly!
