A slowly spiraling low pressure system moved in and on Friday we were lucky enough to receive another .45" of rain. While it doesn't sound much, it makes it the 5th week in a row where we got SOME rain. It has kept the rain barrels topped, if nothing else.
But the REAL change is the temps. Yesterday (Saturday) it never got past 65F and it was cloudy all day. Today it's only going into the high 70s and more of the same (high 70s, low 80s) for the next week.
The lawns are still suffering and there are whole patches down to dirt. But change IS happening - most noticeably on the tomato plants. Blossoms!
Something else. Friday afternoon I decided it was time to give the lawns a mow. I'd not done a full mow since (waaaait for it) - June 7th! A couple of times I did circle the house (out to 10 feet), but that was it. Anyway I set the mower to its highest cut and evened out the shag. I knew temps were to dip and the clouds would help keep the clipped grass from too much shock. All things considered, I judged mowing now wouldn't stress the lawn too much. (Others had the same idea. Across the road another neighbor started mowing too.)
They are sparse and full of dead leaves but welcome none the less. I'll make good use of them.
I don't expect to mow again for several weeks. There is still a drought, the grass is mostly dormant, and there's no need to stress it any more than necessary.
But between the rain, the cooler temps, and the heady fragrance of mown grass, it makes this gardener think more of Autumn than August. And after this hellish summer, I'm all for these below average temps. They can stay as long as they want. Meanwhile, I'm actually enjoying wearing jeans and T-shirts vs. shorts & sleeveless (even if for only a day) and, before you know it, I'll be cooking HOT meals. Yep, you just can't stop me. I'm a wild woman. ;-)
We've also had a definate coolness to the air the past few days. I don't have a ripe tomato yet, but after the drought and heat of this summer, I couldn't care less---I'd give up my Brandywines for Autumn anyday.
ReplyDeleteYou really have a beautiful garden.
I'm with you on the tradeoff, Sue. I've very little harvest this year, don't expect anything much by frost, so will gladly accept cooler temps. Still, I do regret MY Brandywines, too. *sigh* Thanks for the compliment on the gardens. It took a while finding the right angle that didn't show so much of the dead brown grass. ;-D
DeleteWow, your place is so GREEN! The only green we have is the grass around the trees and bushes we've been watering. We're finally getting out of the 100 degree range, but still in the upper 90's. The forecast for the next several days is highs in the 80's. No rain yet, there have been "chances" where somebody besides us got some but there are more coming up, and without the heat dome maybe our chances will improve. I don't have anything in the garden still alive. And blister beetles have arrived.
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry for you, Ilene. I've been reading how you're struggling to keep your stuff alive. I have only sympathy for you down there. Especially since you went through the same thing LAST year. Glenda said her blister beetles didn't stay long at all. Hope they move out from you real soon.
DeleteLike Ilene, I am amazed at your green lawn. The only green I have is where the sprinkler was used to water things. I had to mow it last week too.
ReplyDeleteGuess I should post a pic of what most of the lawn REALLY looks like. *heh* Actually, it's been so dry that even the weeds gave up.
DeleteHmm, I can see patches of lawn that are not green at all and I know how much it is saddening you this year. Fingers crossed you will get a break in the weather, certainly you're due one.
ReplyDeleteHow will you use those clippings? No point putting mulch on soil that's already too dry - might stop what little rain you are getting from penetrating?
Thanks for the sympathy, Hobbit. I've put up a new post to answer both about the lawn and the clippings. :-D
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