Letter to the Editor

Master gardeners offer fun facts

Wednesday, March 25, 2015

Dear editor,

Here's some great fun facts from your local Elmore County Master Gardeners:

How do we know spring is coming? The Farmer's Almanac? Some people swear by it. As a matter of fact, in August of last year, when the book hit the shelves, it was predicted that this winter we would see "below-normal temperatures for 3/4 of the nation." It also stated that the Northern Plains and Great Lakes Regions would be hardest hit.

Sound accurate?

Anthony Artusa, a meteorologist with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Climate Prediction Center was quick to state in August 2014 that scientifically there were no indications that would suggest that there would be any brutal winter weather. As for the Almanac's chances of getting it right this time around, Artusa said that, like everyone else, there's a chance the book's forecasts will ring true.

But for those who are dreading the coming winter, don't worry too much, Artusa said. There's also a chance, he added, that the Almanac got it wrong.

Well, you can't argue that now at the end of the winter season that the book's predictions rang true as most of the state's east of us are still trying to dig out of the record snowfalls. As for the predictions for our area of the nation, the book stated that we would have above-normal temperature with below-normal snowfall. Again, they got it right.

So though the book is based on speculations, I wonder how it will match up if we look back in December.

Here is the rest of the Farmer's Almanac predictions for our area: April and May will be slightly drier than normal, with near-normal temperatures. Summer will be hotter than normal, with above-normal rainfall. The hottest periods will be in mid- and late June, early July, and mid- to late July. September and October will be cooler than normal, with precipitation slightly above normal in the north and below in the south (www.almanac.com).

Most of us in Mountain Home look for a few sure signs that winter may be over. Again not accurate all the time, but the odds are better than most meteorologists.

The first is the melted snow from Bennett Mountain, and the other is the appearance early spring flowers, such as crocus and daffodils. Other surefire contenders are Yellow Trillium, Bloodroot, Snowdrop Anemone, Grape Hyacinth, Tulips and Winter Aconite.

These are all perfect additions to your landscaping that will bring spring color and lift your winter blues. And don't forget, as the birds return and begin their courting dance, it is said that if you make a wish on the first robin you see in spring and you finish making the wish before the robin flies away, it will come true.

For more information about the Master Gardeners or you have any horticulture questions, you can contact us at elmore@uidaho.edu or call us at 587-2136, extension 509.

-- Kim Kovac, Elmore County Extension Office program assistant