Iron weed and the end of summer

To me the above photo of Iron weed in bloom signifies that summer is near the end , and that fall is nearing. I do not mind as fall is the best season for this Appalachian American. Fall means that I will have a few mornings that are cool and I will be able to sit by the fire with a cup coffee,and hunting season will be in as I eagerly await opening day of squirrel season. There is an old saying that Dad taught me" son when the Iron weed is in full bloom the squirrels are in the Hickory nuts." I have been watching the Scaly bark Hickory tree that I have in my back yard as I have for the last 21 years. the squirrels usually cut it out before season comes in about the time the Iron weed begins to bloom. This year however they have not started on it yet, they are more interested in my Galla Apple trees as they come in and climb the tree, pick and apple and move on somewhere else to eat it. Some years I have counted as many as eight squirrels in that Hickory at one time cutting Hickory nuts.

I was looking over the hunting rules this past week as I worked on my traps. They had to be derusted, dyed and waxed. The rust was pretty heavy on a couple of them as I have not trapped

in about fifteen or sixteen years, and I am looking forward to this fall and winter season as I will be teaching the Little Boy. Anyway squirrel season comes in September first in Ohio, I am going to try and go that evening after work. I am still trying to secure permission from some farmers to hunt and trap this season. Squirrel season in Kentucky comes in this Thursday the twelfth of August, if my Uncle Ken is feeling better he wants me and my cousin Lester to take him back down to the home place and hunt, as he would like to do it one more time,just like we use to do.