Winter Predictions, Fall Gardens, and 1859 Just Doesn't End

As September enters the calendar, thoughts turn to the upcoming winter. The Farmers Almanac is forecasting a particularly nasty winter season for most all regions in North America. For northwestern Pennsylvania, a good weather weather site to stay tuned into is CrawfordWeather on Facebook which published the above picture. It is a good site for southern Erie County and all of Crawford in the western Pennsylvania area with up to the minute weather updates (after all Mother Nature doesn't pay particular attention to political boundaries).

Other Forecasts:

In many regions in the western areas of Pennsylvania, there is an abundant apple crop, the oak trees are loaded with acorns (think about planting America's Tree), the wasp nests are high in the trees and there was plenty of fog during the month of August. According to weather folklore, all are signs of an impending snowy and cold winter.

Personally, I haven't seen a wooly bear caterpillar yet this year and the above picture is from last year. But they will make an appearance shortly and we'll see what they have to tell.

The Once Upon a Time Oil Capital of the World

The history of much of the western Pennsylvania region revolves around oil. It was on August 27, 1859 when the oil  began to flow at Drake's Well near Titusville. The success spurred developments in many communities besides Titusville. Oil City, Union City and Corry come quickly to mind as communities which thrived with the oil boom days following the American Civil War.
Pithole, a once thriving oil town, is almost legendary for it's rapid rise and fall. Pictured above is a coffee can filled with crude oil and set on fire for light (a primitive lantern of sorts), something I learned one day at the now famous ghost town.
For those readers not very familiar with the world's first commercial Oil Well and Pithole, Rock Oil.

Canadohta Lake initially received a tremendous boost from Drake's discovery and became something of a luxury resort community for many rich oil tycoons. The lake, once known as Washington Lake and then Oil Creek Lake was renamed Canadohta after a Seneca Chief, named Canadaughta.  The oil men formed their own club, the Canadohta Club and claimed the lake as their own.
Enter local resident, Ben Ruggles who took them to court after he was charged with trespassing. Ruggles won his case and the lake was deemed state or public property to be enjoyed by all citizens. On the downside, the legacy of the case remains even today with property disputes, paper roads, public and private road questions and countless disputes over docks, titles and ownership.
Throughout the upcoming winter, we'll take a look at Ben Ruggles (who was he) and the Canadohta Club (who really were they) .
Follow Koyote Hill or add as an RSS feed and stay up to date with some fascinating and informative series starting the next post. There is some intriguing little known information from Spartansburg and Riceville and all the way to Florida.Ben Ruggles: 1868 -1960.
 If you have something to contribute to this story, please contact. Thanks.

There is still time to plant a Fall Garden. But you need to hurry it up now. Lettuce, swiss chard and kale can all be successfully harvested before the heavy snow and bitter cold arrives. Some varieties even enjoy and taste better after a light frost.
Peas and red beets are also a good choice for a Fall Garden but time is just about out for beans. The earliest bean varieties are about 55 days.
October is the month in our region to get the garlic in the ground. It laughs at winter.It is also time to bring in the herb Rosemary if you have it planted, it is a nice houseplant.
Or if your in a gambling mood, plant now and enjoy a spring harvest when the snow melts.
Sunchokes, or Jerusalem artichokes can also be harvested after a light frost. They can be planted in the fall or the spring in the garden, or harvested in the wild. For more on Sunchokes, Indian Potato.
You may also be interested in:

Sunflowers - These fascinating plants have a long history filled with symbolism.

Perennial Fruits and Vegetables

Build a Bat House this Winter 

Sun Medicine - some cool facts about Goldenrods


Good Blogs to Read -

Step by Step in the Kitchen - Kathleen has a great recipe for Butternut Squash

Uncle Sam's History - This is one of Sam Hossler's history blogs

Go Crawford - well, that's me and news and events in our region. Learn more about the mystery snails in Canadohta and Pymatuning.

    

August - Some Fall Projects and Winter Predictions

 

 

There are always some common comments and questions raised in August. One frequent refrain this month (besides when will the rain stop?): “Where did summer go?” For the most part, it has been rainy and cool; and now it's almost back to school time. The last week has even seen temperatures dip into the forties and wood stoves lit.

Another common question these last few weeks regards the upcoming winter and predictions. Granted, there are a lot of apples this year on the trees and the acorn crop is heavy. Both are viewed in weather folklore as signs of an upcoming harsh winter.

Another weather saying used in August regards fog. If there's a lot of heavy fog in August, it predicts a snowy, cold winter ahead. There has been plenty of fog around the first 15 days of August, although who really has kept track of the number of fogy weather days?

How high in the trees the wasps are making their nest is another indicator of the upcoming winter, but there's a lot of leaves on the trees and it's hard to see the wasp nests. And it's a tad to early to see how frantically the squirrels are gathering nuts.

Mid-August begins the weather lore and for gardeners begins a new planting season. It is time to plant more beans, peas, lettuce and some root crops such as red beets and turnips. Some vegetables just don't worry about and can handle a light frost. For some thoughts and ideas about what to plant, ExtraHarvest.

Returning back to the weather for a moment, no Wooly Bears have been seen yet, but it won't be long.

It's Almost Sunchoke Time

The native sunchokes will be ready soon after the first frost. Also called inaccurately, Jerusalem artichokes, these tasty and healthy tuber can be used like potatoes or eaten raw in salads.

The sunchokes, members of the sunflower family, are about ready to bloom. The flowers are attractive and enjoyed by many bees, yellow finches and hummingbirds.

For more details and information on these native plants and when and where to plant them.
GoldenSunchokes.

A Sunny Window to Keep the Mediterranean Diet for Winter

The healthy Mediterranean Herb, Rosemary, can be brought inside and placed in a sunny window when the weather gets colder. It really can't take our severe and cold winters. It does make for a nice houseplant and can be harvested all winter for kitchen uses. It is a no nonsense, healthy and flavorful plant which doesn't require a lot of upkeep.  Explore more about this Herb, Rosemary.

Some Fall Projects

If you don't plant healthy garlic, now is the time to consider and get a garden bed ready. Garlic is normally planted in late September or October in northwestern Pennsylvania. More details and information at, GARLIC

Bats are in trouble with White-nose syndrome, a deadly disease. Bats strike terror into nightime flying insects, mainly the pesky and disease carrying mosquito.  Build a bat house this fall or winter and help the bats. For more information, Batty for Bats

Getting firewood together for the upcoming winter is a typical past time in northwestern Pennsylvania. Consider building brush piles for wildlife when your cutting wood. Learn and see what animals come and go from pile and learn how to make it attractive year round. Brush Pile.

Good Blogs to Visit

Step by Step in the Kitchen 

Kathleen always makes me hungry when she publishes this blog.

Uncle Sams History

Sam is a great historian and writer; always a fascinating story about local northwestern Pennsylvania history. 

Go Crawford - features events in southern Erie County and Crawford County

August a Month to Harvest and Plant - and Enjoy the Pickerelweed

 Pickerelweed is blooming in many wetland areas of northwestern Pennsylvania. It is an impressive and important native plant to North America. It has blue flowers on a spike which can rise three feet above the water level. Native bumblebees and honey bees are attracted to this water plant as are species of butterflies and even an occassional humminbird.

Amazingly, there is even one species of native bee which lives simply on this plant. Pickerelweed also provides a habitat for several aquatic species. It is generally accepted the plant, well unofficially, get it's name from the pickerl fish or more commonly called, the water wolf or the northern pike.

It can be purchased in many garden centers and is a great addition to any water garden or pond.

For more information on this important native species, Pickerelweed.

Think Mediterranean

Rosemary is one of the most healthy herb in any garden. Once a native of the Mediterranean regions (think healthy diet), it is now grown around the globe. It is a flavorful herb and an easy plant to grow, best of all, it can be harvested at just about anytime of the year.

In northwestern Pennsylvania, it needs to be brought indoors during the winter months because, well, winter's can be a little brutal. But, no worry. The herb does just fine in a sunny window sill. Another plus, it really doesn't like a lot of water or fertilizer. The herb goes well with fish or wild game and there's something special about rosemary roasted potatoes.

It is a well known and respected medicinal herb and recent research indicates it could help brain power and memory. 

Rosemary also makes a good tea and other garden herbs, honey or maple syrup, can be added to it to personal tastes.

What I just write?

For more details and an overview on this ancient plant, Herb for All Seasons. 

Home Garden

June and July were really, really, wet months. Hopefully August will see drier conditions. August is a good month to re-plant many crops for a later fall harvest. The growing season is far from over. For some hints and tips, August Garden.
NOTE: Cyclospora is the latest food illness making headlines. Hundreds of people have fallen sick after eating infected packaged lettuce. While not present just yet, in NW PA, the warning lights are once again flashing about foods we consume. For some medical info on this parasite, Cyclospora.
Lettuce is one of the simplest crops to grow in the backyard and it's very healthy. There is plenty of time to plant it in August to enjoy in late September and August. 

Garlic, at least in my garden, is ready to be dug and dried for winter, and re-planting again in October. It is best to take the largest cloves in the garlic bulb and save them for planting sometime before Halloween.

On the Wild Side

Both blackberries and blueberries are ripening fast, both crops seem to be good this year. Here, the apple crop is also very heavy as are the acorns. I have heard it said several times now that those heavy crops are a sure sign of a bad winter. I'm not so sure, all winters get hard after the first few storms.

But back to acorns and oak trees, grow your own this fall. It's a fun, easy and cost free family project which could last for hundreds of years. Plant an Acorn.

Good Blogs to Read:

Uncle Sam's History

Step by Step in the Kitchen

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