Thursday, October 2, 2014

Winter's Most Reliable Natural Forecaster

 Folklore, wives' tales, the oldtime ways, nature's ways, what ever you want to call it, Here in the Ozarks it is take quite seriously and taken as gospel truth.

Being located in Missouri now I have learned you must put stock in the old wives' tales. More often than not they seem to be right. From plating to harvesting and even the weather can all be predicted by mother nature.  You just have to be wise enough to read the signs. This is one time the old locals just wait for. They wait all year and take a lot of stock in the persimmon forecast here in the Ozarks, a region in Southwest MO.

The Persimmon Forecast

Cut open a persimmon seed. (Find persimmon fruit in your supermarket. It should be locally-grown to reflect your weather.)
Look at the shape of the kernel inside.
  • If the kernel is spoon-shaped, lots of heavy, wet snow will fall. Spoon = shovel!
  • If it is fork-shaped, you can expect powdery, light snow and a mild winter.
  • If the kernel is knife-shaped, expect to be "cut" by icy, cutting winds.
It's best to use ripe seeds.

That's it! Now, what did you see?


"Around this time each year, Melissa Bunker of Star, North Carolina (AKA, “The Persimmon Lady”), sends us her winter prediction based on opening up some persimmon seeds. 

Traditional lore is that if the seeds are shaped like forks, winter will be mild; 
if they are shaped like spoons, there will be a lot of snow; 
and if they are shaped like knives, winter will be bitingly cold.
Here’s what Melissa had to say:

Here is the 2014/15 persimmon readout. Never have seen all spoons before!!! Tell the readers to prep for lots of snow. Even our ground hornets are moving up into our pecan tree.

Thanks, Melissa! We hope to hear from you again next year.
Have you cracked into any persimmon seeds? If so, where are you from and what did you see?"
So dig in get ready winter will be here and it going to be a bad one. The older folks in the area here are touting is as one of the worst we will see. Other signs and tales also predict it will be a long winter also. 
Cleaned by Pete
just a power washer, washing and cleaning the
greater Springfield MO area
417.459.7869

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