This morning while on my walk, I saw a few blackberries in bloom. That can only mean one thing here in the south: Blackberry Winter is just around the corner. In fact, cooler temperatures have been predicted for this weekend. Come to think of it, there were a couple of cooler days last week. Maybe that was Blackberry Winter, but the azaleas are blooming, and dandelions, and columbine, and daffodils, and the roses are budding. Maybe it’s one of those winters. I’m so confused!
Before we had the weather channel or meteorologists to give us the twenty-four-hour weather report, we relied on the old timers to “read” the weather. They could look at the sky and tell us what kind of weather to expect. My ancestors recognized the signs by observing nature’s phenomenon. They took note of when trees and plants leafed out and bloomed, when birds appeared, habits of bugs and animals, temperature and wind changes. Farmers knew when to plant their crops and gardens, when to take cover for a coming storm, and when the seasons were about to change. Now we turn on the TV to get the latest predictions – ones that often do not come to pass.
As spring officially arrives, here in the south every cold snap is given a name. I have often wondered the validity of some of the “winters” in the South. There are “winters” when locust, redbud and dogwood trees start to bloom, and when blackberries begin to blossom. There is a whippoorwill winter when whippoorwills can first be heard before the break of dawn. (I love hearing the whippoorwills call out, “whippoorwill” as the last tone of their song lifts skyward.) There is even a “cotton britches winter” which was when the old farmers changed from their wool britches to cotton britches as summer hit full force.
Dogwood blossoms
We just had Dogwood Winter and the proof is in the dogwoods that are almost in full bloom. Blackberry Winter is upon us I guess and the anticipation of ripe berries in July when the June bugs appear makes my mouth water. Moms and kids will brave the chiggers to pick berries and by evening, they will be eating fresh blackberry cobbler with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
I guess it’s about time to set out those tomatoes but first I have to figure out which winter this is.