Acorns

[Cookiely]

I'm curious about something. I know its a little off topic. My oak trees are dropping their acorns NOW. Are we going to have an early winter? Could this be why the tropical season has been a bit strange. Anyone have any ideas? Is it just an anomaly?

[WeatherWiseGuy]

It could mean the squirrel acornball season has started early.

[LaBreeze]

I'm not sure, but I haven't had one acorn that I have seen yet off of my tree. I have heard that old saying though, about early acorns mean an early winter. We'll have to wait and see.

[gatorcane]

I have been calling a colder than normal winter since mid-summer as the EC troughs have been quite dominating...

Recall in arly August a front swept Florida - although it didn't bring any cooler temps in lowered the humidies some and dried out the atmosphere - very strange...

this acorn thing is yet another sign ...

[terstorm1012]

They're dropping early up this way too (though the Squirrels are helping, I swear they get pleasure out of beaning people on the head).

would not be surprised to see an unpleasent winter...

[Johnny]

They usually start falling about this time every year down my way. I've got a few starting to hit the ground but they should really start falling in the next couple of weeks. Come on deer hunting season!!

[HenkL]

Acorns falling early is the result of a warm summer. It has nothing to do with the next winter. Also: a lot of acorns means the growing season was a good one, no more than that.

[TampaFl]

They're dropping early up this way too (though the Squirrels are helping, I swear they get pleasure out of beaning people on the head).would not be surprised to see an unpleasent winter...

Do you mean the squirrels or the acorns??? J/K had to ask though.

[Extremeweatherguy]

According to the Farmers Almanac, these are the signs of a rough winter ahead:

* Thicker than normal corn husks
* Woodpeckers sharing a tree
* Early arrival of the Snowy owl
* Early departure of geese and ducks
* Early migration of the Monarch butterfly
* Thick hair on the nape (back) of the cow's neck
* Heavy and numerous fogs during August
* Raccoons with thck tails and bright bands
* Mice eating ravenously into the home
* Early arrival of crickets on the hearth
* Spiders spinning larger than usual webs and entering the house in great numbers
* Pigs gathering sticks
* Insects marching a bee line rather than meandering
* Early seclusion of bees within the hive
* Unusual abundance of aacorns
* Muskrats burrowing holes high on the river bank
* "See how high the hornet's nest, 'twill tell how high the snow will rest"
* Narrow orange band in the middle of the Wollybear caterpillar warns of heavy snow; fat and fuzzy caterpillars presage bitter cold
* The Squirrel gathers nuts early to fortify against a hard winter
* Frequent halos or rings around sun or moon forecast numerous snowfalls

Here is the link to the whole blog/article: http://www.websitetoolbox.com/tool/post ... id=1365675




Also, unrelated to the above article, here is a map of what the Alamanac expects nationwide this winter:



May be these acorns ARE onto something after all?

[Taffy]

I am in Florida! My Frangipani is turning its leaves yellow and dropping. That is my sign that Fall is coming SOONER than usual. The Frangipani looks funny all naked and dormant.

My oak tree also has an over abundance of acorns too.

Bring it on. I want a cold South West Florida winter!

[JonathanBelles]

I am in Florida! My Frangipani is turning its leaves yellow and dropping. That is my sign that Fall is coming SOONER than usual. The Frangipani looks funny all naked and dormant.

My oak tree also has an over abundance of acorns too.

Bring it on. I want a cold South West Florida winter!

me 2. im craving a white winter!

[bob rulz]

I've noticed that some trees around here that usually starts dropping their leaves early have already begun turning yellow. It seems much earlier than normal.

[Extremeweatherguy]

I've also noticed early yellowish leaves on a few trees here in Houston. Also, I hear that there is a pretty significant leave change up to my north.

[WhiteShirt]

I have noticed trees around here have been changing leaf colors the last 2 weeks and are dropping the leaves. I know it's not because of a lack of rain. Where I live, we have had a normal amount of rainfall. The squirrels have been gathering the pecans that are still on the trees....almost got hit on the head by a large pecan the squirrels were dropping onto the ground. Hopefully, we will have a cold...and maybe some snow...winter.

[bob rulz]

Just visited some other parts of the city and some areas are already in the full "leaf-droppage" stage. It wouldn't be because of a lack of rain here, either.

[gboudx]

I have a live oak that produced a lot of acorns last year, but this year the crop isn't nearly as much. Plus, the acorns are not even close to falling. But, it's been hot and we're in a drought.

[shaggy]

we also have an over abundance of acorns...One guy i work with lost a white oak tree to TS ernesto and he thinks that the tree fell because of all the extra weight of the acorns....I am really excited about this too because that makes for better deer hunting which starts in a month cant wait for the trees to start really dropping acorns here!

[Extremeweatherguy]

Compared to last year...the leaf change is happening MUCH sooner here in Houston. I took a walk outside today and found that quite a few bushes/trees are getting a few red and yellow leaves. One tree was even completely yellow and had already dropped half of it's leaves! This seems to be about 2-4 weeks ahead of last fall. I wonder if the trees are preparing early because they know cold is coming sooner and harder than usual?

It will be interesting to see how the next few months play out...

[PTrackerLA]

Compared to last year...the leaf change is happening MUCH sooner here in Houston. I took a walk outside today and found that quite a few bushes/trees are getting a few red and yellow leaves. One tree was even completely yellow and had already dropped half of it's leaves! This seems to be about 2-4 weeks ahead of last fall. I wonder if the trees are preparing early because they know cold is coming sooner and harder than usual?

It will be interesting to see how the next few months play out...

Must be some other reason the trees are already dropping their leaves, it's WAY too early for that to happen around here. I'd say the best month for "fall color" around here is November and there's been years when leaves haven't fully dropped their leaves until Christmas.

[Extremeweatherguy]

Compared to last year...the leaf change is happening MUCH sooner here in Houston. I took a walk outside today and found that quite a few bushes/trees are getting a few red and yellow leaves. One tree was even completely yellow and had already dropped half of it's leaves! This seems to be about 2-4 weeks ahead of last fall. I wonder if the trees are preparing early because they know cold is coming sooner and harder than usual?

It will be interesting to see how the next few months play out...

Must be some other reason the trees are already dropping their leaves, it's WAY too early for that to happen around here. I'd say the best month for "fall color" around here is November and there's been years when leaves haven't fully dropped their leaves until Christmas.

yeah last year there were still leaves well into December, and I didn't spot any color change until early October. This year seems to be a few weeks ahead of schedule.