Yes, it’s miserable, trying to work when it’s in the 80’s, but we’re trying to make good use of this unseasonable weather. We have a chance of rain next Tuesday and Wednesday, and we’re also planning on how to water the Wolf Garden with David’s huge 500-gallon poly water tank and a pump to run sprinklers — just in case.
Meanwhile, we’re planting like crazy, as we can. I try to go out every morning early and either till where needed or plant more beans and corn. Yesterday, I set in 10 pounds of German Butterball potatoes and five more rows of beans. I’ve also got another patch of corn in and a row of San Felipe pumpkins from seed. Tomorrow, Will is going to set up five more 16-foot stock panel trellises for more pole beans while I take a run to get a perm, so my hair isn’t in my face all the time. No vanity here! It’s supposed to be 91 or higher tomorrow so I might not be planting again until evening. Thank God the bugs haven’t been bad. Our friend, Dara, had very bad black flies at her place, making wearing head nets necessary. So far, none are here. Yet. While I was coming back to the house, across the pond, I spotted a Bald Eagle sitting on a dead fir tree, along with two Magpies, hoping he’ll come up with something to eat.
On Saturday, we’re going down to Moose Lake to watch our grandson, Mason, graduate from high school. It seems like just a few months ago he was begging David to carry him around on his shoulders and show him how to skip rocks in the pond. Now he’s a member of the Air National Guard, even before graduation. Of course, Will joined the Marine Corps and went to Vietnam before he graduated. (Yes, he did get his diploma later.)
Then, on Sunday, we’ll hit the garden hard, planting a whole lot of corn and squash too. I won’t be setting plants in the ground yet, even though they’re ready and we have no frost in the forecast. It’s too sunny and scorching. That’s pretty hard on newly transplanted veggies. I’m waiting till Tuesday afternoon, when the clouds are supposed to come in, being cloudy on Wednesday too. I hope.
We’re enjoying seeing spring pop up like crazy. Our daffodils are in full bloom, as well as our cherries and plums, not to mention the apples in the orchard. Even the wild blueberries are flowering like mad. With no frost, we should have an abundant fruit harvest. Unless the drought steps in. We’ll have to wait and see. — Jackie
I sure hear you. Our nighttime temperatures, for the 10 day forecast are in the 50’s. But with the crazy weather, we never feel safe this time of the year. Good luck with your temperatures.
We are looking at possibly having our first “heat wave” of the summer….. I know that the definition of a “heat wave” is different depending upon where one is…… Might also vary depending upon the time of year. Here it is 3+ days in a row of 90+ degree temperatures……… Sigh. Today is warm and HUMID after a surprise rain (2+”) yesterday……………
Wow, two inches of rain! I’d put up with hot and humid if we’d just get that. Today it’s going in the 90’s F and that’s hot for us.
Temps here in NE can’t make up their mind either, several days in the 80-90’s, then 60’s, and windy. We’re getting a few days of spotty rains now. No fruit here because of late frost, so hoping for a good veggie harvest. I might have to hand pollinate, there are almost no pollinators. It’s sad to walk through a pasture with lots of blooming clovers and see no bees. None. Just have to have faith.
Congratulations to Mason! A young man to be proud of. Thanks for the beautiful pictures, and sharing your life with us. Peace!
Wow, that’s shocking about the bees. Fortunately such crops as tomatoes, peppers, beans and corn are not dependent on pollinators. The first three have perfect flowers, with male and female in each, where corn is wind pollinated. It’s terrible, though, to see no bees. I was just watching them on the dandelions in our pasture as the clover isn’t going to bloom for about two weeks or so.
I’m also planting like crazy. The ground is parched and we need rain. Darn voles ate 1/2 row of peas-pesky little devils. As usual the weeds aren’t hampered by the dry weather. I grow my vegetable starts. At the local farm and fleet plants were 4.95 each. A packet of your seeds will grow many plants. My home gas barrel is dry and I dread having it filled- the gas is for our farm. Prices on everything have really gone up. Fortunately for us we raise our beef and supply most of our vegetables/fruit. The heat is a bugger while working outside but I always remember winter will come.
Yep, I’ve seen how much plants are and what a poor selection of varieties there is, also. We were so fortunate in having filled both our farm diesel and gas tanks before the price leaped up. Thank God!!
Why the heck do weed seeds germinate fine in drought where vegetable seeds struggle??? And those voles!! Boy, I sure hate them. I think our resident fox and cat, Mittens, keeps them down. At least so far. Buffy? The only thing that cat has ever caught was a disabled grasshopper!
Well, I got out and put a bunch of Jersey Devil tomato plants in the garden bed yesterday, our weather being recently sunny and warm. But a quick check of the 10-day forecast shows it’ll be 36 tonight and 39 tomorrow night, so I’ve gathered up all my “garden sheets” to put over the tomatoes until the nighttime cold finally ends. for goodness’ sake, I wish the weather would make up its mind.