Snow Stories and the Indian Summer

First Snow – the Coming of Indian Summer

A mid-October snowfall is common in this region. It fell October 15th and 16th and when it was over, the ground had about four inches here. It was a pretty and ugly wake-up call. There are still projects to get done before the serious stuff gets here; although some serious snow fell, measured in feet, October in 1997 in Buffalo, New York and basically shut down the city.

Snow does have an upside. For the yard and garden, snow does has positive benefits. It is weather's way of providing necessary mulch to help protect and insulated the soil from severe cold and cycles of thawing and freezing. Snow also helps to retain soil moisture in the ground, important for both yard and the water well.

Snow also helps to put an end to some pesky insects such as flies and mosquito's, a point to recall with a snow shovel in hand.

This week will be an Indian Summer week if the forecasts are true. (Read about Ebenezer's contribution in 1794 below.) It will be a good week to mulch with other material before the next arrival. Leaves, grass clippings compost and other organic material can be placed in garden and around trees and shrubs to help the snow work it's benefits. There is always something to do in yard or garden


Snow Brings Wood Ash

The cold weather brings wood ashes for many, even during an Indian Summer, the nights can be frosty. The common belief is that the ashes are good for the vegetable or flower garden. But there are several qualifiers.

Wood ash does contain potassium, phosphorus and magnesium. However, the levels of each depend on what wood is burned; hard woods will have higher levels than soft woods. Wood ashes can help neutralize the soil similar to lime; however in general, it takes about twice as many wood ashes to reach the same levels as lime. Wood ash can be used successful for the vegetable garden except areas where potatoes will be planted.


The generally accepted amount for vegetables is one gallon of ashes per square yard. Lesser amounts can also be used successfully around trees, particularly fruit trees and shrubs and flower beds. If wood ashes will be saved throughout the winter, they need to be kept dry, once one is certain all the hot embers have been extinguished. A better idea, and safer, is to just sprinkle the ashes on the snow or frozen ground. One chord of wood, according to estimates will produce about sixty pounds of wood ash.

Coal ash should never be used, nor should treated lumber. Fireplace logs and other commercial fire starters should not be used in the garden; nor should the ashes from a fire which contains plastic or rubber products.

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PA Snow for Squirrel Season


In many area it wasn't a good day for hunting squirrels as the season opened in many regions. The heavy wet snow fell in the woods most of the day off of the many leaves which remain on the trees; branches snapped and fell. Even the golden rod fields were flattened by the wet heavy snow. This week, and hopefully, next, the Indian Summer weather will remain and bring better days.

But this black squirrel was harvested. Black squirrels are not as common as many others. At one time in the early days, there were more plentiful and abundant. A black squirrel is actually a gray squirrel but wears a different coat.

The mast crop in some areas is heavy, while in others, scarce. The squirrels will simply move, like many animals, to the areas which have plenty of food.

While the cold rainy and snowy weather made for hard conditions in the woods, the Lake Erie Steelhead Trout have been moving up the creeks and fishing for them has been good.

They can be fighters. This steehead was taken from Sixteen Mile Creek in Erie County.
Check out my recently published content on AC:

Steelhead Journey in Lake Erie

Stay up to Date on H1N1 and the Flu Season.


Snow Brings the “First” Indian Summer


Major Ebenezer Denny wrote one of the first known occurrences of the term “Indian Summer” on October 13, 1794 in a journal he was keeping. Ebenezer was at a small military garrison at Fort LeBoeuf, known today as Waterford, Pennsylvania, located in northwestern Pennsylvania.

No one however is quite sure of the origin of the term and exactly what the term's relationship with the Native Americans. What is known is that it is period of dry unseasonably warm weather following the first outbreak of frosts and snow. Some years can have several periods of Indian Summer, some will not.

Remember this? - Starting on Friday, October 13, 1997 Buffalo, New York was buried under feet of snow following a Lake effect snowstorm which lasted days. The snow closed the city and hundred of thousands were left without power.



Good Blogs to Read:

Vincent di Fondi

On Your Way to the Top

New York's Southern Tier

Urban Veggie Garden

Simply Snickers

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HubPages

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Buckwheat - the Fruit


The buckwheat planted on August 16th began to bloom 24 days later on September 9th.
Buckwheat, which is related to rhubarb (also amazing), has it's long ago origins in China. Buckwheat is actually classified as a fruit.

The buckwheat was planted when I harvested garlic this summer in early August. Buckwheat is a great cover crop adding many nutrients back into the soil. Sometime in early October, it will be turned over and the garlic will be re-planted and then covered with the last of the year grass clippings to wait out winter.

I might even get a small amount of buckwheat which can be used for home use. Buckwheat pancakes are a favorite around here. This ancient fruit, buckwheat, is also a very healthy food.

There are other winter crops which can be planted now to improve soil fertility, protect the soil from harsh winter conditions, and improve the lives of millions of microbes and bacteria, hidden from view, which make for good garden soil for next year in the spring.

For many, the growing season was dismal and pathetic. But now is not the time to give up. A vegetable garden is health care, both physical and emotional, and does save money. Fall is an opportunity to feed the soil, to make it better. Cover crops, like buckwheat, oats, winter wheat or rye, are all good choice to get a head start on next year.

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Nature Watch



Autumn brings a lot of opportunities. The all important wildflowers are exceptional this time of year and rival the soon to be leaves. The other day, the red squirrels were busy store pine cones they pick from the trees. The red squirrels store the cones on the ground, sometimes it gets to be a huge pile called a catche, so they have plenty to eat during the winter months.

The catche makes it pretty easy for anyone collecting the cones for decorations, fire starters or seed saving. Often there will be seeds inside the pine cone which can be planted in the spring. Protected from hungry birds and other critters, the small seeds will sprout into a tiny evergreen seedling in about three weeks.

Acorns are plentiful and a good choice to collect for starting your own tree. Collect the acorn, push into the soil and wait till spring. It's best to use a pot or container and leave it covered with a screen, outside. Acorns like and need the winter weather. The screen is important. Birds and other critters get mighty hungry during the dead of winter and their scent of smell is something phenomenal.

It's a great family project; collect the cones, plant the seeds, grow your own tree, help the environment. And some year, a once upon a time child, will see that tree and recall a once upon a time family walk in the autumn woods. It's a great gift.

H1N1 Info

Wash your hands frequently, eat veggies and fruits, get plenty of sleep and click the link below to keep updated. There is a lot of uncertainty about this bug, it may be just a common pain or could develop into something more serious.


Clean Water Festival



September 12 at the Woodcock Nature Center. If your local or are in the area traveling stop in at the Woodcock Nature Center. It's always a great time. More info at festival@crawfordconservation.com of call Brian Pilarcik at 814-763-5269.

Some Really Great Blogs and Additional Reading.

Vincent di Fondi- Vincent just published his first novel, Blessed Abduction, available through the Buy a Book link above. Or check his blog to learn more about the novel and his new home in Costa Rica.

On Your Way to the Top – Kathleen always has good insights

New York's Southern Tier – A travel destination in nearby New York by Richardson

Urban Veggie Blog – Dan is located in nearby Ontario and is a good gardener.

Simply Snickers- by Linda Nickerson, some great poetry and links

Other articles I have written for Helium can be found by clicking the title; others can be found below in the box at HubPages.

more »
HubPages

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Hatch Hollow Fame

Hatch Hollow

It has been a tough season for home vegetable gardens but Morgan and Mike's vegetable plot in Hatch Hollow is doing really well. The one problem seems to be cucumbers which are dying. Here's Morgan's description in an email the other day:

“Got tons of broccoli, beans, peas, lettuce, beets, tomatoes, cabbage, celery, kale, and my pumpkin patch, as I call it, is doing awesome too. No pictures, but HUGE pumpkins, I planted mt squash plants with them and have tons of zucchini and summer squash! Planted tons of sunflowers and Indian corn also for wedding decorations.”

Mike and Morgan will tie the knot in October and I am sure there will be garden foods and, from the garden, decorations for the big event.

They use a lot of companion plantings in their garden, and Morgan, is currently working on putting together a pollinator/perennial garden this fall in between wedding plans.

Hatch Hollow is a small community, a blink and miss it sort of place. There is no grocery store, no gas station, but a small church and cemetery and a cluster of homes.

The place had one former resident who reached national prominence, Ida Tarbell. Tarbell was born in a small cabin not far from the pictured garden. She and her family moved later to Pithole during the great oil boom there around 1866 and then when the oil ran out in the Pithole area, moved to Titusville. Ida Tarbell is best known for her still respected biography of Abraham Lincoln, and the classic History of Standard Oil.

Note: If you want to send a garden picture with some notes, please leave a comment at the end of the blog. Thanks.

Fall Garden and Think Spring

August and September are good gardening months. There are many vegetables which can still be planted and harvested before winter arrives. Peas, beets, turnips, broccoli, lettuce and other greens are good options.

This is also a good time to re-do or establish perennial beds for pollinators and to get the compost pile started again for better soil nutrients for next year. August and September are also good months to think about and plant cover crops like buckwheat and oats which will help to suppress weeds while adding good nutrients to the soil. Cover crops also give added protection to the microbes living unseen in the soil but which are critical to organic gardening success.
Fall Vegetable Plantings: A Good Opportunity
A fall vegetable garden offers many opportunities for an extended harvest season and a spring head-start next year.
http://www.associatedcontent.comarticle/2048567/fall_vegetable_plantings_a_good_opportunity.html

Independent Book Stores keep the money local. Buy from your Independent Book Store. Click on the link below to buy a book from the nearest Independent Book Store.


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H1N1


There will likely be a lot of sick people, down with the flu. Government estimates indicate that half of the population will suffer from the flu and upwards of 90,000 could die. Eat healthy, wash your hands frequently and if you feel sick, stay home. For more information and CDC updates click on the link below. The flu season is coming early and in fact has already begun in several US communities.



Fleas and Ticks

Darn critters bother us and the pets. But be careful using some of the spot-on treatments. They could harm you and your pets. Use caution and read the link below for further information.
Fleas and Ticks: A Nightmare for Pets and You
Some flea and tick treatments pose risks to humans and pets.
http://www.associatedcontent.comarticle/2084141/fleas_and_ticks_a_nightmare_for_pets.html

For the Heck of IT:

In some regions, a weather folklore claims an abundance of American Mountain Ash berries in August and September indicates a mild winter. This year there seems to be an abundance of berries (could we be so lucky) The berries can also be used to make a jelly or jam. As far as the prediction, we'll have to wait and see; what happens, happens. But it is fun to dream.

Yesterday is history, tomorrow a mystery, today is a Gift.

Blogs that are good to read and informative:
Vincent di Fondi- Vincent just published his first novel, Blessed Abduction, available through the link above, Indie Books. Or check his blog to learn more about the novel and his new home in Costa Rica.

On Your Way to the Top – Kathleen always has good insights.

New York's Southern Tier – A travel destination in nearby New York by Richardson

Urban Veggie Blog – Dan is located in nearby Ontario and is a good gardener.Dan has some creative meals from the garden.

Other articles I have written for Helium can be found by clicking the title; other articles can be found below in the box at HubPages.

more »
HubPages

SEARCH BOC CODE FOR GOOGLE