Seeing the Wind,Watching the Weather

Changeable. That's the word for the weather.  At least, that's the kind word.

We had a cool and fairly wet May here in Muskoka.  Everything greened up beautifully as a result.  Friends in England point out that they are in a drought, the ground very hard, the crops just not growing.  We, on the other hand, are usually grabbing an umbrella as we head out the door.  I'm counting on the old proverb, "A cold wet May will fill your barn with Hay."  I'm also counting on the Farmer's Almanac (are they ever wrong???) that says it's going to be a hot dry summer... and we're getting the rain out of the way early.

The cool weather did an abrupt turnaround last week, soaring temperatures into the 30's, and shoving the humidex higher and higher.  Blessed are we indeed to live by the Lake of Bays, with it's constant cooling breeze!  Plants leapt out of the ground so fast you could watch them grow. Especially the asparagus, which -- rather alarmingly -- grows about eight inches a day.  The corn has all managed to push leaves up out of the ground, setting us dreaming of August when we'll be enjoying roasting the cobs. There is nothing better than sweet corn that has literally just been picked. Our father, Paul, used to insist that the pot be on the boil before he picked and shucked the corn, and cooked like that it is so sweet it is almost sinful.

Trees know a lot about weather.  Contrary to the belief that they just kind of stand in one place passively, trees are actively involved in their environments. Poplar trees, for instance, transmit messages over unbelievably long distances, somehow telegraphing if there are insects or blight moving in.  Trees also serve as excellent weather barometers.  Just before a significant change in the weather, particularly one that is bringing rain, the trees will flip their leaves over, showing the silver underside.

We may have trouble seeing the wind, but the trees have no such problem.