Tuesday, November 29, 2005

STRANGE WEATHER     FALL FUNGUS, TURKEY MOUNTAIN   I think the trees are confused. Here in NE Oklahoma, out of season warm weather continued through most of November. Some days the highs reached 80 degrees (Fahrenheit). The trees could not reach a consensus as to whether Autumn had arrived, or not. They knew in their roots that it was past time, but the weather was just wrong. So the trees came into Fall all higgledy-piggledy, and out of step.   Some trees kept their green leaves, deciding by whatever tree-ish process to keep that chlorophyll working while the sun shone and the weather was fine and warm. Other trees knew “the days grow short when you reach September,” and they didn’t “have time for the waiting game.” Their leaves “turned to flame” and robed them in their autumnal regalia.   For all I know, some of them were go along get along types—“Joe Oak over there has let his leaves change, I will too.” Some trees, I think, went, “To Hell with it!” Their leaves turned brown and dropped immediately. It was as if each tree made up its own “mind.” This has made for a very piecemeal and ragged panoply of the season.   Cold, but not very cold weather has finally arrived in Tulsa. But over the weekend we had strange weather. It was cloudy, then sunny, the temperature rose a bit, and powerful storm winds blew without a drop of rain. Branches as well as leaves fell.  Flash fires started. I could smell smoke in the air when I went out Sunday. Fallen leaves drifted and swirled like dry snow does when the wind blows in deep winter, where there are still winters with actual snow. Oklahoma doesn’t have winters like that anymore. In Tulsa, winter now lasts about three weeks.   I heard on the radio that a severe snowstorm shut down I-70 in Colorado and Kansas. I actually like cold weather, and I miss it. I used to live in Denver and enjoyed having four seasons, each with its own weather. When Annie Beagle and I went walkies this evening, it was pleasantly brisk out, the sky was clear, and I could see more stars than usual. I wonder what the weather’s like in Kyoto?   10:15:34 PM    comment []