Trego's Mountain Ear

In 1960, I learned that the first snow of winter could be expected around Halloween. As a young adult, my winters included snow surveys – being paid to ride snowmobiles. Now, at 75, I’m reaching a stage where the body refuses to stay warm in the cold – I can almost understand the snowbirds who winter in the south and return north for the warm months. But not yet – I can still get in a few good hours in the Fall, as the leaves drop from the Serviceberries and the needles turn yellow on the Western Larch. With the yellow needles interspersed in the green of the Douglas Fir and Ponderosa Pine, and a glance upwards showing snow on Mount Marston and Stryker Peak, late October is our prettiest season.

Now, it’s about time to put the snowplow back on the old Ford – soon snow will cover the trees and give the winter scenery. NOAA has some projections for us that suggest we can expect colder temperatures than normal and more precipitation. Which translates to a bit more time bringing in firewood:

Ah, well, I expect we will still encounter a January thaw and then March will bring Spring again. The extra snow should help fill the pond. I forgot to buy a 2,4,D mix with nitrogen fertilizer to hit the Canada thistles with a Fall growth surge that takes the root reserves from them – and I probably need to look for some Semaspore bait for next year’s grasshoppers.