Here is an amazing photo provided to us by Sandra Lamontagne, who ranches with her husband, Roger, near Rockglen, Sask.
Lamontagne says she and Roger were checking fence on some native pasture Sept. 17 when they spotted the crocuses and could hardly believe their eyes. Their son suggested photographic evidence was needed, and he came up with the idea of putting the Sept. 16 issue of the Producer in the photo as proof of timing. Later, Sandra took the photo to town and showed farmers who were depressed about the wet rainy weather that was preventing harvest.
“See, summer’s coming,” Sandra told them. Indeed, the sun came out the next day and harvest has been progressing ever since. Sandra says no one she has spoken to can recall seeing crocuses bloom in September. She found them on the top of a hill, part of their 13 quarters of land. The area has received 16 to 20 inches of rain this summer, where it normally gets about 10 inches. Apparently the moisture inspired the flowers, and it has also inspired great pasture growth to feed the Lamontagne’s 200 cows.
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“If we don’t get a lot of snow, (the cows) are going to be out there grazing well past Christmas.”
The Lamontagnes also put up twice as many bales as usual this year due to the moisture-enhanced growth, so there won’t be any need to buy feed this year.
So these crocuses may not be harbingers of spring, but perhaps they are a sign of better times ahead.
