Little known ‘order of the leaves’
I love my snow, but I do enjoy the four seasons and the magic that each one brings.
On the farm, work was done according to the seasons and Mother Nature's whims and, not necessarily, on our schedule. Over the years, I have learned a lot from that, but I digress.
Come spring, when the soil started to warm, Grandma paid close attention to which trees were first to bud; she believed the oak and ash trees were telling us something about the upcoming season. According to popular belief, the order in which these trees bud holds the answer.
As was so often the case with oral history, a rhyme was made up to more easily remember the information: "Oak before ash, only a splash; ash before oak, we're in for a soak."
Grandma wasn't the first to turn to these trees for a longrange forecast. Scientists at the Centre for Hydrology and Ecology in England have kept records that date back to the 18th century. According to their data, the race between oak and ash was far more equal last century. In the 1900s, the oak was ahead only about 60 per cent of the time. More recently, the oak has charged ahead, budding before the ash almost 90 per cent of the time.
So, let's get to the root of this one. The ash tree has shallow roots and relies on moisture from winter's snow to set its buds. Oak trees, on the other hand, have a deep root system and do better in drier conditions – not having to rely on spring snowmelt.
Generally speaking, our overall snow cover has gone down during the past couple of decades. Therefore, as it pertains to the budding trees, it seems to be more of a reaction than a forecast, but don't tell Grandma that!
I love that so many of you observe these things and submit your photos. Last spring, Leanne MacArthur Matthews pointed out the columnar oak in the background was well ahead of the branch from the ash tree in the foreground on her property in Woodburn, N.S. Oak before ash - only a splash. Last spring was dry in Pictou County.
Did you notice the order of the leaves this spring? I’d love to hear from you. Email me at weathermail@weatherbyday.ca