Minnesota Prairie Roots

Snow clings to maple leaves in my backyard. Most leaves on the maple have not even turned color.

My footprint in the snow.

SNUGGLED UNDER a fleece blanket in a La-Z-Boy recliner watching the nine o’clock news on Sunday night, I can’t believe what I am hearing. The news anchors and weather forecaster are predicting up to three inches of snow beginning in the overnight hours and stretching into Monday.

The map shows Faribault, where I live, on the northern fringe of the region doomed to receive the most snow.

Sure enough, when I emerge 15 minutes later from my reclining cocoon and glance out the front window, I see snow already falling.

How can this be? It is, for gosh sakes, only October 11.

Just days ago we had our first hard frost. Few trees have shed their leaves. Heck, many leaves have not even turned color. I have tulip bulbs to plant, dead flowers to pull, pots to haul into the garage, green tomatoes still clinging to vines.

This is way too early for the first snowfall of the season. (OK, we did have a light dusting overnight on Friday.) As I write, it is mid Monday morning and the flakes are still spurting from gray skies. Today is only October 12, my husband’s birthday, for gosh sakes.

Happy birthday, honey!

© Copyright 2009 Audrey Kletscher Helbling

Snow frosts ferns.

Summer takes a seat to winter.