Weather-Wise Gardening: Taking Cues from Nature

Long before modern scientific methods were available, people, especially gardeners, relied on and used nature for predicting the weather. Perhaps you may recall hearing your grandparents comment on approaching cold or damp-like conditions because their joints were especially achy. Maybe you've heard someone mention that when the leaves of trees overturn it foretells windy and possible stormy conditions. Many people today do not believe in such claims. I have even received some strange glances after stepping outside and mentioning that "it smells like rain." While some of these 'so-called' wives tales have been deemed untrue and pushed aside simply because they have no real scientific basis, many of them are actually quite accurate and widely used today.

I see nothing wrong with taking clues from nature when it comes to gardening, or anything else for that matter. If it works for you, then by all means go for it. Weather-wise gardeners have learned how to pay attention to these 'tales', from certain animal behaviors and plant characteristics to atmospheric changes or astronomic occurrences. Nature has its own way of forecasting the weather. All you need to do is carefully observe your surroundings and you'll be well on your way to becoming a weather-wise gardener, just like grandma and grandpa were.

There are hundreds of sayings that surround the unusual behavior of animals and insects. For instance, rain will come when roaches fly. Birds fly high in fair weather and closer to the ground before a storm. Animals are, in fact, sensitive to changes within their environment, which for the weather-wise gardener can be a good way to predict upcoming events that may be crucial to the success of the garden. When it rains, the air is becomes thinner; therefore, most flying animals prefer to travel lower to the ground where the air is more dense. Unusual behavior typically means unsavory weather. So the next time you hear or notice bees returning to the hive, dogs eating grass, or cows in a huddle, expect rainy conditions. Of course, you can expect fair weather too. When crickets chirp loud, they'll not be a cloud. When spiders weave by noon, fine weather will follow soon.

Plants are a gardener's passion. But to the weather-wise gardener they are also good forecasters. For instance, many plants, such as rhododendrons, have the ability to gauge temperature by opening and closing their foliage as temperatures rise and fall. Tulips and daisies fold up their petals prior to rain. Flowers also become more fragrant before rain. You'll find an abundance of mushrooms when there is a lot of moisture, so if you see toadstools in the morning, expect rain in the evening. If autumn leaves are slow to fall, prepare for a cold winter ahead. An abundance of acorns also signals a harsh winter season to come. Look forward to spring, however, once the dogwood blooms, as there will be no more frost.

Weather-wise gardening also involves reading the sky. From its color to the types of clouds and wind patterns, the sky holds many clues to weather. Who hasn't heard the saying, "Red sky at night, sailors delight. Red sky in the morning, sailors warning." The higher the clouds, the better the weather. Large, tower-like or dark-colored clouds signal rain. Also, clouds that travel at different speeds and in different directions are indicators of bad weather. Those who are weather-wise also pay attention to the fog. If fog forms on the water in spring or fall, frost is imminent. Descending fog is always indicative of poor weather conditions while rising fog brings pleasant conditions. West winds normally carry with them pleasant skies and conditions. Even the sun and moon can give weather-wise gardeners clues. For instance, a red sun signals a fair day. A clear white moon indicates nice weather, while a ring around the moon means rain real soon. Although we tend to see rainbows following a shower, these too can help foretell weather. For example, rainbows in the morning (coming from westward skies) warn of approaching rain while those seen in the evening mean that fair weather is returning.

Of course, it's impossible to prevent unfavorable weather, but with weather-wise gardening practices (taking cues from nature), you can at least prepare for these adversities. So the nest time you hear someone say "frogs call before rain" or "dew on the grass, no rain will pass," take heed. You just might find yourself amazed by how many of these old sayings are true.