This day in 1976, we set a record that we may have broken last night. The low was 39 thirty-three years ago. It's currently 39 and clear. I would say it's sunny, but the sun hasn't made it over the tops of the trees just yet. Our average nightly temperature this time of year is 56 degrees. I sure hope the tomatoes don't suffer a huge setback. Lots of blooms even on the beefsteaks. I was really hoping for a mid-June harvest.
This should be our last night of chilly temperatures. I've said that three times now. Mother Nature has a sick sense of humor trying to prove me wrong. This time last year, we were in the upper 90s and even 100s by the first week of June. As Kris says, it's going to be weather whiplash with upper 80s by the weekend.
This spring has been unusually wet. Or maybe the last couple of years have been unusually dry. That's part of the reason I started this blog. I wanted to keep track of the weather, blooms, and when plants seem to reach their full potential.
Out in the garden, many of my perennials are budding. Lemon mint Mondara, Rudbeckias, shastas, petunias, datura, etc and so forth. I even saw one tiny coreopsis bud yesterday on what I believe is a Full Moon variety. I'll know for sure when it finally pops. Since this is my first year growing some of these plants, I'm not sure if this is normal. It will take 3 years to determine a pattern. More long term planning is in my future.
With Memorial Day this weekend, things at the store will be slowing dramatically over the next week. Purchase orders will be much smaller. Inventory will be reduced as minimum orders decrease. We'll even cancel some orders as sales drop. We've already noticed over the past week that people are buying less even as they visit more often. Where did the last 3 months go?
6 comments:
It's great to have 'inside info' on what a big box store is doing in its garden department! :-D Wonder if having Memorial Day a whole week earlier and the weather so much colder this time of year affects buying patterns.
*sigh* I'm just jealous of all those clearances you're going to be snapping up after the holiday. With markdowns and your store discount, they should prolly now have to pay YOU to take stuff off their hands. ;-D
Kris, most big box stores will be marking things down rather than throwing them away. If you see a plant you wouldn't pay full price for, just ask someone if you can get it for half price. That's our policy. It's better for the bottom line to sell something than to throw it away.
I guess that's not a record you want to break! I hope it warms up there. It's back to being cool and wet here.
I thought your record was going to be heat. It's 7:30, and 84 degrees! I'm having to water my lettuce daily in hopes it will hang in there and not get bitter. Where are the 70s?!!
I hope your weather improves.
Tom,
I was reading earlier about your "cloner" and wondering how did the woody plants (such as hydrangea, shrubs, etc.) do as far as rooting? I am considering making a really small one, like shoe box size, using a heating pad under it as you suggested. Thanks, Judy
Judy, hydrangeas should do fine if you use new growth. I've had very little luck with woody plants so far, but I was trying during their dormant period this past winter. I plan to post tomorrow about propagation as I'll be getting my outdoor chamber ready for shrubs.
Post a Comment