Yes, summer is coming and what’s a Texas rockhound to do? In more northerly parts of the country, rockhounds look forward to summer because that is exactly when they can get out and go on field trips, without worrying about mud and snow cover. Here in Texas, we have the opposite problem. Winter is the optimum time to take field trips. It is cool out, the vegetation is feeling less fierce and most of it is not pumping out pollen as fast as it can, and the snakes are hibernating for the winter (a particularly important fact!)

Have you tried rockhounding in the summer in Texas? Besides having to carry twice as much water and maybe a shade cloth, you may need gloves to pick up hot rocks that have been sitting in the sun all day! And heat stroke is a real possibility. Try carrying a bucket of rocks on a day with afternoon temperatures over one hundred degrees Fahrenheit.

Now, it can be done. You can make a (very) early start, and finish by noon. That’s doable. Just plan to stay somewhere with a pool to give you something to do in the afternoon! But I have a better idea for the wimps like me who don’t enjoy working in the hot sun: just go north! Wyoming, Montana, Colorado, Idaho, Michigan… all wonderful places to rockhound and not nearly as likely to burn your fingers just picking up rocks. Just plan your summer vacation around some of those juicy localities you have read about in Rock & Gem. Michigan coppers, Montana sapphires, Wyoming jade… the list goes on and on.

Maybe that won’t work for everyone. Some spouses and children have no sense of humor. Seriously, why go to a beach when you could be digging agates? There is no understanding some people.

At least there are Gem & Mineral shows held in comfortable air-conditioned venues. There just don’t seem to be many in the summertime.

Well, if you cannot get away to the fossil fields or agate beds of your dreams this summer, here is another idea: WORK ON WHAT YOU HAVE! Some of us less selective rockhounds have a hoarding problem, shall we say. We never want to throw out a rock because we might want to slab it up or trim it for display or trade it to another rockhound someday. While that is true – you probably won’t! So have pity on your significant other and organize a bit. Go through your collection and get rid of the real duds. Consider donating or trading off some of your seconds. And if you have some true-blue rockhounding buddies, give them a piece of that prized South Texas shrinkwood you may never get to.

Remember that you found these rocks outside. That means they could be stored outside! While HOA administrators frown on front-yard rock piles, that doesn’t mean that you can’t put them around the flower beds in you back yard. Or in buckets or milk crates in your side yard. Or in stackable plastic bins in your attic – the heat is not likely to bother your rocks there. Do be aware that enthusiasm could cause you to overload your rafters if you are not careful!

Oh, excuse me! YOUR rocks are too fancy and expensive to live out in the back yard. Well, you will just have to organize them in the house then. Are they well-displayed in cabinets or bookcases? Have you considered lighting for your displays? ARE THEY CATALOGED? Will anyone know what you had if you keel over trying to carry a bucket of rocks uphill on some 100-degree summer day? Make labels, identify your rocks, keep lists and records of purchase prices. Your heirs will thank you!

Get to work then! Here is the payoff: if you clean up and organize your collection of specimens and/or cutting rough, when decent weather returns, you can go collect more! And hopefully you will be able to store this new batch in a more logical way!