What does Old Man Winter have in store for us now that the hot and humid summer is over and autumn is officially here?
"Ontario can expect a surprisingly mild winter, although December and January will be colder than average with very little snow," says John Pierce, publisher of The Old Farmer's Almanac 2006, a traditional bestseller that tells you everything from when to plant tomatoes to when to put on a raincoat.
The Almanac has been informing and entertaining readers since 1792, with monthly charts outlining such events as sunrises and sunsets, religious observances, and whether the moon's astronomical placement is in Aries or Virgo.
But it is most famous for predicting the weather -- a year at a time -- and you won't see the editors observing the woolly bear caterpillar's markings to see how cold it will be, or counting cricket chirps to measure the temperature, either.
Forecasting the weather is tricky business and the Almanac's founder, Robert B. Thomas, developed a "scientific formula" using sunspot activity, planetary placement and the moon's tidal action to aid in the calculations.
And according to Pierce, not much has changed. While our agricultural forefathers looked to insects and animals, flora and fauna for clues, we peek out our living room window, watch newscasts and read the newspapers.
"I pay attention to what meterologists say and I check the internet every morning," says Wendy Stricker. But she could just as easily listen to what her body is telling her.
"On a sunny day, I'm outside and active, while on rainy days I feel achy, get headaches and my back is sore," says the 50-year-old hair stylist.
She even notices a difference with her clients at a nursing home on the east mountain of Hamilton. "They're a little more depressed when it's cloudy or rainy, and are really upset when it snows and plans have to be cancelled."
Stricker will be glad to know there won't be much snow this year, although winter will come quickly in December in spite of a warm and dry November, says Pierce.
"Our climate is entering a very weird phase and as the next cycle ramps up we'll see a lot of activity -- hurricanes, heat waves and other extremes.
"This
year's statistics show a more active than average hurricane season," says Pierce, adding there won't be as much activity next year.
He also predicts another hot and dry summer due to a low and stable upper air pattern and suggests rethinking how we garden by xeriscaping or planting drought tolerant materials.
Stricker is planning on taking apart her garden: "A lot of plants didn't perform well -- everything seemed to dry up before blooming."
The Almanac, however, is not just about growing things or forecasting weather. The tiny tome also has stories on home decor trends, toys and collectibles, and how to train your chicken to do tricks.
Now that's something to cluck about.
