Forget the Meteorologist, Look to Nature!!!

I would love to be a meteorologist. They are wrong about 70% of the time, and they still keep their jobs! If I was wrong that many times, I would be in the unemployment line. Gardeners and farmers have long looked to signs in nature to predict rain and the severity of winter. Many of these predictions make good sense if you consider that rain usually comes with a drop in barometric pressure. Animals and plants will react to this change; a good gardener will notice these signs.

Here are some signs in nature that rain is on the way:

Bees: stay in the hive

Cows: they lie down and extend their necks

Fish: swim near the service.

Milkweed: the pods will close.

Mushrooms: sprout

Picher plants: Open up to gather water.

Sheep: collect in a flock

Spiders: they rebuild and reinforce their webs

Trout: jump

Here are some signs that the winter may be server:

Chipmunks: are abundant and gathering lots of food

Geese: are flying south at a higher altitude

Onions: when you harvest them they have a thick skin

Snowbirds (gunkos): appear early

Squirrels: are scarce (because of early hibernation?)

Woodpeckers: appear early

I grew up learning about these predictions. Of course this all depends on where you learn. Here in New England I have observed many of these predictions to come true. I would bet a paycheck based on the appearance of gunkos to predict the up coming winter.

So the next time you want to know about the up coming winter, watch the birds and onions!