By Brenda Beust Smith
Punxsutawney Phil can breathe easier. Big Al agrees. Six more weeks of winter. It’s not that we don’t believe the famed groundhog. It’s just that, here in Texas, we gardeners think an alligator has a better perspective for us. This is important, after all. It’s hard to argue with Al, who – at 1,000 lbs – is the largest alligator in captivity. He’s living out a comfortable old age at Gator Country on I-10 East at Beaumont in the caring hands of famed gator rescuer Gary Saurage.
Most important, Big Al has 100%-accuracy prediction rate of the arrival/non-arrival-yet of spring. The ‘hog’s rate is less than 50%, according to the Farmer’s Almanac. Of course, Big Al has genetics on his side. His favorite food is Kentucky Fried Chicken. He won’t turn it down once – and not until – all danger of winter has passed. Gators are physically unable to eat, their bodies cannot digest food, until their weather-radar approves. If the gators aren’t eating, know there are more freezes ahead. Big Al’s ignoring his KFC. So put off planting anything tender for a while.
(By the way, Gary adds, this is also the time when most alligator shows are filmed. As long as the water temperature is below 68˚ alligators can’t eat you, so aren’t dangerous. Who else would tell you these things?)
Reprinted by permission, Lazy Gardener & Friends Houston Garden Newsletter
Brenda Beust Smith, a national award-winning writer…we know her best as The Lazy Gardener…has rebuilt her beachhouse in Emerald 2.
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