Winter Storm

    Not knowing for certain. I assume it was Grandpa Negstad whobegan planting trees around his homestead shanty on the west edge of Brookings County, SD. Dad, Albert Negstad, continued the practice, Grandpa’s great-grandson, Wayne who, lives there now has planted more trees. Those trees were planted in a ‘u’ shape with the east side open. Prevailing winds were westerly. By the time I came on the scene the trees were mature, offering a wonderful wind-break protection from winter storms.

    It seemed blizzards typically lasted three days followed by intense cold. The wind would howl in the trees and the tall ponderosa pine behind the house would sway in and sing. While the wind blew the yard around the house was totally protected. School would be canceled for three ‘snow days’. Huge snow drifts piled up and made great places to play. When I heard that Interstate Highway 90, from Chamberlain, SD to the Wyoming border, was closed for the current storm, it brought back memories of being snowbound.

     he St. Louis style rain and snow of the past few days is quite different. It was helpful that it warmed enough last night to melt the ice from the trees. There was significant rainfall but no way to measure because rain gauges have been removed to avoid freezing. The accumulated moisture should soak into the soil where it fell because there’s not much frost in the ground. Better it lies on the fields, and soaks in, than piled in snow drifts in the trees.

Takk for alt,

Al

Local schools were closed for a 'snow day' today.

                              Holding a trophy pheasant. 😁