Believe or no, Marin County, CA used to be "country". My first job in life was shooting crows. It was a horse and cow area. And I learned early on to take note of the signs nature gave me concerning winters and summers. It's never failed. So, yes, I agree with you, BTS. I'm always happiest out of doors and gardening. You run a nursery, eh? What heaven!
Yes, all by myself. Nobody to have to explain things to.
It's heaven alright, except for the 98 hour work weeks 10 month a year. Kidding about the work being tough, I love it, it keeps me young.
I'll tell you what I'm beginning to watch as an indicator of the coming winter -- the number and variant sizes of acorns that fall from my older oak trees in the late summer and fall.
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To be interested in the changing seasons is a happier state of mind than to be hopelessly in love with spring. ~George Santayana