Weather or Not?
OK, so I didn’t spell that right. But for the next few days, whether the weather brings rain or not, is a serious question.
After the foothills of southeastern Tulare County got a good soaking last week, the waiting grass seeds sprouted and have put up small, tender green shoots. In many places, the heavy “clod-buster” leaves of the filaree have also pushed through the surface.
The smaller, and much more tender shoots of the slender grasses, will wilt first if we don’t get some rain soon. Their roots are also fine and small, and can only bring in limited amounts of moisture. But the 1 inch of rain we got put sufficient moisture in the ground to germinate those seeds, and start the little grass shoots pushing up. The reality is there has been no further moisture applied to the ground, and the upper levels of the underlying soil is rapidly drying out.
When the moisture available to those tender grasses is depleted, they’re going to first wilt and start falling over. Even though they are tough and resilient, if the next rain holds off long enough, the most tender plants could be permanently damaged and even die back. Once they die back, it would take another good rain storm to irrigate the remaining seeds sufficiently to start another crop of grass. And fear not, there are ample seeds still waiting under the surface to be sprouted and grow up to create a grass crop, though not as quite as good quality as those first sprouted.
The real tough customers are the filaree plants. This first rain was enough to encourage their heavy “clodbuster” leaves to push through the dry surface, baked into hardness during the long hot summer months. The inch of rain did soften the hard crust to some extent, but those first filaree leaves push through even the hardest areas. The real power of the filaree plant is the ability to push down a taproot, far into the soil. They are, in effect, “chasing” the moisture which is soaking deeper into the earth. As the tap root pushes down, small thin capillary roots form a network to collect moisture to nourish and support the growing plant. This network of small roots along the length of the tap root, mean the filaree can follow the moisture as it soaks deeper into the earth, and keep the plant growing much longer than the tiny thin grasses.
All this explanation sets up the statement and conjecture concerning when the next rain will fall on our foothills. The simple answer at the moment this is being written? Nothing is being forecast in the current 10day forecasts.
There was a brief appearance of possible showers next Tuesday after the Thanksgiving weekend. I was encouraged, for even a week out is not too far. However, the next time I looked at a 10-day forecast, that possible shower had evaporated. We can all go back to watching the extended forecasts to see when the next possible rain will wet down our hills.
Following several stories about fires over the past weeks, plus the equipment requirements for being a driver, I’ve gotten many nice comments. But a few folks have urged me to bring my hilltop critters back into this column, particularly Mr. Boo, my 2,000 pound crossbred Hereford/angus herd sire.
Ryan, my oldest son, and I were working outside this past weekend when I spotted Mr. Boo approaching us from the back gate. I started talking to him, and walked in his direction. He started mumbling right back to me. Of course, I had to get a quick lick (his version of a kiss) on my hand before I gave him a thorough scratching on his neck and shoulders, ending with a big hug around his neck.
Before long, it was time to take a load of trash wood out to a big growing burn pile, complete with some green leaves trimmed from one of the trees. The cattle love it when we bring tree trimmings out in the pasture, and soon come over to us. When the cows hurry to the truck, predictably, Mr. Boo isn’t far behind.
An acquaintance had accompanied me on my trip to the trash pile. This is a gentleman who has no experience with the personality of Mr. Boo. Suddenly, by his right hip, stood a large black bull, pushing to get in close enough to get a big mouthful of leaves.
He looked up at me, a little startled. “Should I be worried?”
I chuckled. “No, that’s just my big bull, Mr. Boo.”
He looked up with a concerned expression. “He’s quite gentle.”
I’m not sure he was totally convinced though. Mr. Boo can be a more than a little intimidating to folks who aren’t familiar with his nature. Having a ton of herd sire pushing against your hip might be disconcerting.
This coming Saturday, November 28, from 9 a.m. until noon, I’m going to be set up in front of the Porterville Recorder office once again. There will be more than enough room to maintain adequate separation. I will have both my books, “Fire on Black Mountain” and “Snow on Black Mountain” available for sale at $14 each, for cash, check, or credit card. And, for the same price, I will also be glad to sign them to anybody you’d like.
If you already have a copy of each book, drop by just to say hello and visit. However, if your Christmas List isn’t completed, now is a perfect time to pick up a couple of good books for stocking stuffers.
If you can’t make it this week, I’ll be in the same place the following week, December 5, also from 9 a.m. until noon. There’s also an unconfirmed possibility of a Springville signing on the next weekend, December 12.