Once the Farmers’ Almanac comes out with its winter predictions then our attention turns to the numerous signs of nature to see if she agrees. There are many signs of a hard winter but here are some of the most common ones. I will do half today and the remainder tomorrow. I have already heard form several folks about what they are seeing. Here goes:

1. Thicker than normal corn husks

2. Woodpeckers sharing a tree

3. Early arrival of the Snowy Owl

4. Early departure of geese and ducks

Today is the 25th of August and I just saw two huge vee’s of migrating Canada geese here in the Central Coast area of California. There is a staging area around a year round live riparian area where they stop annually on their way north and south. Does this mean we will have an early winter since they normally migrate around late September and October? Barbara

5. Early migration of the Monarch butterfly

6. See how high the hornet’s nest, will tell how high the snow will rest

Scott who lives in Maine tells me the wasps nests are only 2 feet off the ground - mild?

7. Unusual abundance of acorns

Dolly who leave on the Maine coast shares that she can’t leave home without a helmet because the acorns are falling like missiles. Rough?

8. Thick hair on the nape of a cow’s neck.

9. Early arrival of crickets on the hearth

10. Raccoons with thick tails and bright bands

Have you observed any signs of nature? Tomorrow, I will share the last10 including the famous Wollybear Caterpillar.

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