[AT] Pumpkins galore

[Charlie V]

As of this morning, fall is officially here.  The temperature at dawn
was 31.1 degrees F. and Jack Frost had a very busy night.  Unlike many
areas not too far away, there is not more than 10-15 % color change in
most of the trees.  I suspect the next few days following this freeze
will be a different picture with full color.  Due to the memorable
weather for crops, harvests have been two to three weeks earlier than
normal and very abundant.  The only crops still in the fields are what
I think are soy beans and the not quite dry corn.  Some fields of corn
still show faint green in the lower half of the stalks.  My lawn has
made three to four inches of new growth every week through July,
August , September and October thus far, and unlike some, I do not
feed it with any fertilizer. Too bad lawn is not a cash crop rather
than a debit venture.  With 3 1/2 inches or new rain this last week,
some of my areas have standing water and will not be mowed for another
day or two.


Speaking of cash crops, this year has pumpkins by the hundreds.  The
crop was fully ripe by late September (again two to three weeks
early).  Driving along the roads there are numerous farms and
vegetable stands that typically may have fifty or so pumpkins out for
sale to the Halloween trade.  This year, entire front yards are a sea
of orange, just filled with pumpkins.  It is a sight to see and
remember.

On another topic, I can not remember adding any water to any of the
tractors this summer.  However, just in case I have a dose of CRS, it
is about time to do the walk past 10 or 12 radiators with the
antifreeze tester and confirm that all is well.  With memory not being
infallible, I prefer " better safe than sorry".

Charlie V. on the Eastern side of Western New York.