October 5, 2025
Today I am taking a break from discussing the political polarization that is occurring in our country, not that I have given up on learning what is in the Epstein files, but rather just so very tired of the political maneuvering being done by ICE and other atrocities coming from this administration.
So, we are going to talk about the weather. I did what I assume will be the last lawn mowing of the season on Saturday. I saw a woolly caterpillar scurrying through the grass. I carefully avoided running over his black body. I circled the evergreen he was heading towards and got my phone camera ready. He had one orange stripe at about the one third segment of his body.
It started me thinking about all the folklore and myths associated with the coming winter.
I was able to find the trusty FARMER’S ALMANAC online. Iowa is in region 10. It predicted, “Warmer than normal, with light snow and short cold spells. Less shoveling overall, though late January could bring a winter punch.”
That news seemed reassuring, but other naturally occurring happenings reveal this summer weather will soon be ending.
I have been observing the six trumpeter swan cygnets near our home. I made several passes by the water in the last two days, and they have flown away. Blackbirds are gathering, too. They are forming quite large groups, upwards of an estimated 200. I always marvel at how they fly in a group without running into each other.
One of the indicators of a long and hard winter is the abundance of acorns. Sometimes there are so many that walking is perilous. This year my observations at Squirrel Hollow Park have not shown a large acorn production, thus indicating a mild winter.
So back to the woolly worm/caterpillar I spotted. According to folklore, the woolly worm’s coloring indicates how severe the coming winter will be in the local area where the caterpillar is found. The woolly caterpillar’s body has 13 distinct segments. According to weather lore, each one corresponds to one of the 13 weeks of winter. Each black band represents one week of colder, snowier, and more severe winter conditions, whereas orange bands indicate that many weeks of milder temperatures. I do wish that woolly warm had more than one orange band.
The last folk tale I found says that if you see a ring around the moon, it means we are in for a rough winter. The explanation is that the ring is a sign of moisture in the air and that usually translates to lots of snow and cold temperatures before spring comes around.
The moon is full this Sunday evening and has no rings. Fingers crossed for the correctness of the Farmer’s Almanac and not the woolly worm. Mary Weaver of rural Rippey shares her thoughts in VIEW FROM MY WINDOW.
