Weather and What My Grandparents Would Have Said

This is such odd weather for the month of April in Tennessee this year.  Our temperatures started out extremely high for the month, to the point that we broke records.  Now to everyone surprise this week there was snow forecasted for the Smokey Mountains, and our highs have been only in the low 60's.  Mostly this month our highs have been in the 80's. The reason this is so odd is that we have already had Blackberry Winter.

In discussing the weather, family, and friends all have been discussing the latest cold snap.  Our grandparents taught us in the south not to plant our tomato plants before Blackberry Winter. Every gardener knows there are vagaries of weather following the first warm days in early spring, but not all people know their names, or that they have names, and why. 

Old-timers in the Appalachians know there are several named "winters" following winter, and Blackberry Winter is perhaps the best known. There is also Dogwood Winter, Locust Winter, Whippoorwill Winter, Redbud Winter, and even Linsey-Woolsey Britches Winter.

Long before there were visuals on TV showing long-range weather patterns of the jet stream and ocean currents, local folks had sure signs for when to plant and when to wait.  In the eastern United States, especially the Appalachians, most of that seasonal lore was named, and is still used by the old-timers today. 

 Dogwood Winter occurs about the time the dogwoods bloom, usually between mid-April and mid-May, varying from year to year (this year that happened in early March).  In some areas, Blackberry Winter and Dogwood Winter occur at the same time (which happened late March early April for us), while those living two or three states away may experience two distinct, separate cold snaps.  The old-timers knew it usually happens when the dogwoods are in bloom. With the possibility of frost happening during Dogwood Winter, they also knew to wait until after the dogwood bloomed to plant tender vegetables and annuals. Native Americans watched for the dogwood blooms as the sign to begin planting corn and other crops.

Blackberry Winter old-timers also knew that blackberries need a cold snap to set buds on the blackberry canes, so as sure as night follows day, there will be a cold snap when the blackberries bloom, called Blackberry Winter.  In some areas, a late cold snap occurs with the blooming of the locust trees usually before the dogwoods bloom or the redbuds. So you have Locust Winter, and Redbud Winter happening after the first flush of warm spring days and before Dogwood Winter and Blackberry Winter.

Locust Winter generally isn’t as long or cold as Blackberry Winter. 

Linsey-Woolsey Britches Winter, a term not used so much anymore.  Linsey-Woolsey Britches Winter was once a popular term, back when winter clothing was homespun of linen/wool, and winters were harsher. It was the last time in spring that you’d need "long johns" before trading them for short sleeves, and it usually came about the time of Blackberry Winter. 

The last gasp of cold weather is Whippoorwill Winter.  It is actually a herald of warmer days coming to stay for the summer. The whippoorwill migrates from wintering in Mexico to their summer range farther north in late May to early June. Whippoorwill Winter not as cold as the other “winters” but still a bit of cold snap lest we forget

Since I'm into old sayings, here are a few more:

Red Sky in the Morning, Sailors Take Warning.
Red Sky at Night, Sailors Delight.

A red sky in the morning indicates that storms and rain can be expected within 24 hours, whereas, a red sky at night indicates clear skies for the next 24 hours.

When the Dew is in the Grass, Rain will Never Come to Pass.
When Grass is Dry at Morning Light, Look for Rain Before the Night.   

Dew forming overnight indicates fair weather, whereas no dew forming indicates rain.

A summer fog for fair, a winter fog for rain....

Ground fog is summer indicates fair weather, whereas ground fog in winter forecast rain.

Clear nights - cold days.

This is especially true in winter, early spring, late fall, and especially after a rain.

When forests murmur and mountains roar, close your windows and shut the doors.

When sound travels long distances, expect rain soon.

All of my flowers including shrubs have bloomed, and turned their new green for the year.  Springtime is such a lovely new bright green.  Even my large oaks had their leaves before April 1st.  Odd indeed.