As my last post hopefully demonstrated, I keep a keen eye on the atmospheric patterns that will likely influence our weather each winter. However, long before meteorology became a science, people relied on natures cue’s to predict the severity of a coming winter.
Whether these signs are just coincidence or there is some truth to them, they have become persistent beliefs that have been inscribed into folk-law by generations of farmers and mountain dwellers.
For us in the Vallee D’Aulps the common theme is plants and animals preparing for a harsh winter by growing a tougher protective layer or multiplying in a way to resist potential reduction in numbers due to the cold. Which seem to be sensible precautions faced with the prospect of a cold harsh winter.
The onions – Thicker skin than usual, means a rough winter ahead.
The mushrooms – Mushrooms galore, much snow in store. No mushrooms at all, no snow will fall.
The wasps – More wasps, more snow.
The mice – Plenty of mice, the snow will fall nice.
The Gentian flower – The taller the plant, the deeper the snow.
This year I have not managed to wander high enough to see any Gentain flowers, but I can say from my own observations that, there are loads of mushrooms, mice and bees. Much more than normal and I have it on good authority that locally grown onions are thick of skin.
Now if we could just work out how nature knows.
