3 thoughts on “January 6 – 12, 2014 Kaw Valley Almanac”
I hadn’t really considered soil temps and burrowing as Dawn and I were talking about how the ‘bunnies’ survive the cold last night. I have realized that the earth keeps the bottom of my little garden pond ‘warm.’ Amazing to me that the soil can insulate at even such shallow depths. I presume that the burrowing takes place before frost makes the ground hard?
Yep, I think most animals are pretty hard wired to have a place ready to get into by the time extreme cold comes around, unless their strategy like grasshoppers and annual plants is to “plant the seed” in the fall and leave continuation of the species to the next generation. Birds have been known to burrow into snow drifts at night, using the igloo approach to insulation as well…. ________________________________________
We are lucky to have a snow “blanket” during this bitterly cold spell. This is why we need some good hard freezes during the winter to kill off some of those grasshoppers.
Thanks for your almanac. I’ve really been enjoying reading it. I’ve noticed the lengthening daylight in the evenings. But as my Dad used to say (one of his many weather sayings): As the days begin to lengthen, the weather begins to strengthen.
Kaw Valley Almanac 
I hadn’t really considered soil temps and burrowing as Dawn and I were talking about how the ‘bunnies’ survive the cold last night. I have realized that the earth keeps the bottom of my little garden pond ‘warm.’ Amazing to me that the soil can insulate at even such shallow depths. I presume that the burrowing takes place before frost makes the ground hard?
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Yep, I think most animals are pretty hard wired to have a place ready to get into by the time extreme cold comes around, unless their strategy like grasshoppers and annual plants is to “plant the seed” in the fall and leave continuation of the species to the next generation. Birds have been known to burrow into snow drifts at night, using the igloo approach to insulation as well…. ________________________________________
LikeLike
We are lucky to have a snow “blanket” during this bitterly cold spell. This is why we need some good hard freezes during the winter to kill off some of those grasshoppers.
Thanks for your almanac. I’ve really been enjoying reading it. I’ve noticed the lengthening daylight in the evenings. But as my Dad used to say (one of his many weather sayings): As the days begin to lengthen, the weather begins to strengthen.
LikeLike