[pbs] Blooming now/Weather changes
Kathleen Sayce
ksayce at willapabay.org
Sun Feb 1 22:55:59 EST 2009
I'm several hundred miles north of Mary Sue, and here we have seen
more erratic weather than normal. Our rainfall is close to normal
levels for this time of year, but it is coming in intense clumps,
with prolonged dry intervals between. So, 2-3 weeks of snow and temps
in the 20s in December, then a break. Rain, rather a lot, in early
January, then a break. More snow, then a break, more rain, and then,
several weeks of dry clear weather. It's been lovely from a human
point of view, as sun in the middle of winter always is on the PNW
coast, but where's the steady rain and snow to recharge mountain
storage, lowland aquifers, and everything in between? Not here, clearly.
'
Most years I would say this area is zone 8 (which is the USDA's
determination), a few years it's zone 9, and this year, I think it's
leaning to zone 7. I'm planning to build a suitable 'protected cold
frame, if only to have a spot to hold those zone 9 species I can't
keep myself from trying, when zone 7 winters roll in.
As for flowers, a few crocus and snowdrops are in flower, and lots of
shoots hint that many others are on their way. I've gardened
intensely at this location since the early 1980s, and have seen
'peak' spring bloom range from March to May, and only one other
winter (1985) when winter temperatures were this low. So this year it
will be very interesting to see what happens when.
Kathleen
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