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.
