Thursday, October 17, 2024

The weather forecast for Newmarket predicted an overnight temperature just above freezing. So I was surprised when I checked the thermometer reading at 5:15 this morning: 28.8F. That’s a hard frost. I did remember last night to cover the peppers, nasturtiums and parsley, and the one remaining Sungold tomato plant. This is also my cue to plant the garlic.

This first frost of the fall coincides with the full moon. As we set out on our walk with dogs Henna and Doc before dawn, the setting moon shown brightly just above the trees. This is a supermoon, appearing especially large given its proximity to Earth. Also a Hunter’s Moon as hunters set out in search of deer fattened up on acorns. And according to the Maine Farmer’s Almanac, the Dying Grass Moon. These names remind us of our connection to the earth and the changing seasons.

Henna and Doc did not howl at the moon, but barred owls were vocalizing in the early hours. We’ve been hearing them a lot recently, mostly a scream call, not the well-known “Who cooks for you?” banter. According to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, the scream is an alarm call. Maybe they are alarmed at other predators; we’ve seen bobcat, fox, coyote, and heard great-horned owls in our neighborhood. They are all competitors for the same prey: rabbits, squirrels, voles, birds, and maybe an unwitting barred owl.

Alas, the sheets covering the peppers, tomato, and nasturtiums did not function as intended due to the hard frost. The plants are done in.

The nasturtiums droop after last night’s hard frost.