Anyone else needing rain?

10 years ago

Damn I can't believe this August has only dropped three 1/8" rainfalls. That basically translates to nothing.

With a week left and given the forecast going to potentially be the second driest August on record. Nice little follow-up to the 8th driest July on record.

The storms that roll in track southeast but are either north or south of me. 25min south Milwaukee got two seperate 1"+ rainfalls this month and 25min north they got a 1"+ rainfall.

Anyone else feeling like they're sitting in a bubble?

This week in 90s and WINDY is sucking the life out of the trees around here. Not to mention it is a son of gun trying to keep up and establish my own garden.

Impatiently waiting for fall!

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Comments (21)

ghostlyvision
10 years ago
I'm right there with ya whaas, been drier than a bone all summer down here around Houston, lots of rain right off the coast but not a spatter over here. :(
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
10 years ago
Anyone else feeling like they're sitting in a bubble?

=>>> not enough moisture to make a bubble...

ken
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I took a couple of pics. Can you see the rain pouring off the roof? And don't you just love my fall garland with the xmas lights? lol! I was going to take the fall stuff down today and put up the winter garland and a few other decorations. I think I'll just make some cookies. ; ) Here's the front garden loving the rain, I'm sure. I started to dead head and prune back some of the roses earlier this week but only managed about half of them. I couldn't bear to cut the ones back that were still blooming. : (
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My grandson and I have been out working this morning. We are still working on "re-claiming" my garden spot and extending it some. This morning we have been moving rock and raking up the dead stuff so we can burn. We, like Jay, got all of that thunder and almost no rain. If you look at the radar right now it looks like our entire county is getting rain, but we aren't. I think they are getting it on the south end of the county for sure, but we haven't had any more this morning. If we get rain with no lightening, I may just be out there working in it. Right now our temperture is 76 degrees, but with the humidity at 73% I am wet anyway. I was in Tulsa yesterday and drove down to see if Lisa had opened early, by any chance, so I could buy some tomato plants. She hadn't opened and from my vantage point it looked like they had just started to put the plants out. She still had the chain across the driveway and someone was shoveling soil out of a truck, and I'll bet they had a long day getting finished. LOL This was the first time I had been down there for a few years and it was easier to find. She has a sign out front, plus some signs saying when she will be open. The first time I went to buy from her Dad, it was much harder to locate since it wasn't marked so well. I hope that I get to pick some up on Saturday. I only plan to buy a few, and actually put them in the ground. I will probably ask my DH to put up one cattle panel in the part of the garden that I have in "reasonable shape". I am going to plant a few fall things while I continue to work on other sections of the garden. My tomato cages are still around the spring planted tomatoes so I will have to improvise a bit. I think that I will also plant some bush beans in the ground. I don't usually plant them for two reasons. Since my back doesn't bend, I can only pick them down on my knees and in the spring the ground is too wet to get down there. My DH and I have been discussing the possibility of building some raised beds in one part of the garden to handle the spring things. The soil needs to be improved in that area anyway so this would be a good time. Sometimes in the spring, I can't get crops in the ground because it is too wet, but later in the year it is fine. If I had a couple of above ground beds that I could cover, then I could probably start even earlier. Although I am getting a few tomatoes and some banana peppers, and squash, it seems odd that I am not covered up with produce in mid July. My plants wouldn't win in beauty contest this year. This has been a strange year for sure. Scot, I would probably pick before a rain if I had as many as you do. About half of my vines are Sungold so I don't have all of the pounds and pounds to worry about like you do. LOL It looks my big tomatoes are still setting fruit and this cooler weather should help a little with that. I guess I will just keeping picking fruit off my poor, ugly vines, as long as they keep pumping it out, and hope that my fall garden will be a little prettier.
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Rose said: It is the juniper berries? I have some gin and yellow raisins in the pantry. so my give it a go. Moni says: The origin of the gin-soaked raisins cure is shrouded in urban legend, though this famous home remedy got a boost from legendary newsman Paul Harvey. Although this remedy dates back many many years, the kinds of pain that have been relieved or eliminated after taking the gin-soaked raisin formula include migraine headaches, gout and arthritic pain. Many experts will tell you this is nothing but a placebo effect, but any herbalist can easily spot the science behind it. It would stand to reason that the alcohol in the gin would extract the medicinal compounds in the rai sins, just as it does in other herbal tinctures. But why specifically GIN and Golden raisins? Gin started out as a herbal medicine before it was adopted as an alcoholic drink by the manufacturers of spirits. Even today, while there many varieties of gins, juniper still remains a common ingredient to impact the flavor to all of them. Gin is a spirit flavored with juniper berries. Juniper berries were first used by the Greeks and then later the Egyptians and Romans. In fact, the use of berries as medicine is believed to predate their use in food preparation. Some of the notable medical uses of juniper berries in alternative medicine include its use as a diuretic and appetite suppressant. It is also used in the treatment of arthritis and rheumatism. Juniper berries are rich in vitamin C, catechins, alpha-terpineol, alpha-pinene, betulin caryophyllene, limonene, menthol, rutin, and delta-3-carene. These are all anti-inflammatory compounds. Since gin contains alcohol, it is an effective solvent in traditional medicine. Gin is often used to extract the active ingredients of barks, leaves, roots and other plant plants used as herbs. Besides water, alcohol is the other popular solvent for obtaining and dissolving herbal extracts. Gin makes an especially good candidate as an alcohol for herbal extraction. Golden raisins also contain several anti-inflammatory compounds: ascorbic acid (Vitamin C), cinnamic acid, coumarin, myricetin, quercetin, and loaded with antioxidants such as resveratrol and vitamin C. Raisins also contain ferulic acid, gentisic acid and salicylic acid — known pain relievers. In addition, raisins contain potassium and calcium, both of which help protect against bone de-mineralization. The basic powerhouse of nutrition, properties found in raisins are numerous - Iron, Zinc, Sodium, Potassium, Magnesium, Manganese, Vitamin C, Vitamin K, B vitamins, Anthocyanins Golden raisins are treated with sulfur dioxide in order to slow down the browning process. After this, they are either oven-dried or flame-dried. Sulfides left on the grapes after drying are thought to provide anti-inflammatory benefits. Sulfur is common in many other treatments for arthritis. The exact causative pathways of arthritis and arthritic pain are unknown, and there may be many mechanisms in the body that are affected in the development of arthritis. Perhaps the synergy between the various natural compounds in the drunken raisins remedy creates a communication with the body to allow it to heal on a complex level that modern science cannot yet analyze or address. RECIPE: Put one packet of golden raisins in a shallow glass container and pour enough gin into it to just cover the raisins (I never use THAT much gin I just stir them up well every day!) Let the raisins absorb the gin and the remaining liquid evaporates, about 7-10 days to allow the raisins to steep in the gin.(about 5 days is enough) Allow all the gin to evaporate before putting the gin-soaked raisins a container. Originally it said, to take 9 raisins daily, but I just use a small (very small) spoon full, one in the morning, and one at night. I find it works best, if I take it close to every 12 hours. Moni
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Interesting.. some people have absolutely no problems and some people did like me. The mosquito population over here exploded. There are swarms of them literally going after me every day. Its good that I didn't have to give any supplemental watering to my plants but too many fungus problems happen in this much rain. Is there really no way of combating fungus diseases caused by the excessive rain? Or do I just have to keep watching my plants suffer and die. Because even if you apply fungicide the rain will only wash it away. I wonder if a state exists where there is consistently 1 inch of rain a week in spring and summer, almost no precipitation(other than snow) in winter, doesn't go below -5 degrees in winter but not a warm winter like in the PNW and southeast(need a pretty good freeze for fungal reasons), doesn't go over 85 degrees in summer, humidity is low in summer, no natural disasters, no voles or Japanese beetles. I would do anything to move to a place like that.
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whaas_5a
Original Author
10 years ago
Oops, sleep deprived! No idea why I put this in shrubs!

Although I guess it applies to everything.

Rain, Rain soak those dry gardens won't you?
jim_1 (Zone 5B)
10 years ago
I honestly believe that somewhere on my roof is a sign visible only to rain drops that indicates an avoidance of my property in August. Less than 1/10 of moisture for the month, and the 10 day forecast is void of the word rain as though it were one of those "4-letter words" that should be avoided.

East central Illinois is the spot.

Jim
User
10 years ago
Rain about 3.5 for month with more today and tomorrow, so should be normal by the end and soil moisture much above average. Pretty much west of the Mississippi, seems dry (including Alaska and Hawaii). Was not aware till your posting that drought was expanding once again.

Here is a link that might be useful: Drought monitor map
Sequoiadendron4
10 years ago
Yeah add me to the list of you all. I'm in SE PA and apart from a 1.75" rainfall two weeks ago, we haven't gotten meaningful rainfall for a long time....I have a crack in the ground near our Honeylocust that I can put my hand into...
mulchmama
10 years ago
Kansas is hell this time of year. Well, most times of the year, but this is the worst. We put in all our lawns and berms in the first two years we were here, and they were very wet years. Then Mother Nature turned off the tap and I have so much to water. My husband and I agree that replacing shrubs and trees is a lot more costly than a big water bill, but one bill last year (for two months) was over a thousand dollars. I am pretty miserly about how I water, too. An awful lot of it is hand watering at ground level.

Our garden is way too big, I'm afraid.
whaas_5a
Original Author
10 years ago
Blazing full sun on a sandy slope makes it worse here.

If temps are average I can go 3-4 weeks at a time with an 1" of rain during the summer before it starts to dry up. Its surprising that August and July combined average 8" but over the last three years while establishing my garden both months combined over that time hasn't even hit 1 years worth.

That drought monitor is hilarious. I understand it doesn't go by county though. July and August have been DRIER than that record setting drought last year.
The temps just haven't been as high.
SnailLover (MI - zone 5a)
10 years ago
NW Michigan here and our last 3 summers have been extremely dry. I torture myself by watching for rain on the weather.com satellite. Once it comes across Lake Michigan it always breaks up and goes either north or south of us. Like there's a shield over the area or something. At least that's what it feels like.

Fortunately we had a few storms recently, and today it rained so much there was a flash flood warning, which is pretty unusual here. What a relief. Hoping for rain for all who need it!
whaas_5a
Original Author
10 years ago
Same here...except those storms stayed north of me AGAIN (at least is wasn't 20 min away, more like an hour). I saw some nice storms developing over lake MI.

Glad you got some rain.

I've been running my sprinklers since 6am yesterday. I only shut them down from 2am to 6am. They'll run again until 2am.

I'm going all out and watering my entire 1/2 acre, grass and all. Lost so much grass last year as its only 2 years old.

Mulch is a savor early in the year, but I hate it right now as it soaks up so much water since its so dry. Takes forever to get any soil penetration.
ghostlyvision
10 years ago
We got about a half or three quarters inch yesterday and the day before, the plants seem more confused than ever. The 10 day forecast has three 20% chance days, more likely twenty percent chance of seeing a cloud. Or an alien.
whaas_5a
Original Author
10 years ago
I'd take that and be set for 3 weeks!
ghostlyvision
10 years ago
LOL I can't even eke out 3 days with the heat down here. :(
deltaohioz5
10 years ago
Way too much rain this year in N.W. Ohio. Just the opposite of last summer. All I've been doing is mowing and spraying roundup.

Frank
whaas_5a
Original Author
10 years ago
Dude, I enjoyed mowing the month of June. Great exercise.

Sure beats watering (which takes 100x longer and 10x more costly) and watching plants suffer with dieback in the surrounding woods here.

Enjoy your rain while you can!

Finally got 3/4" today which ended a 39 day period without rain greater that 1/8". Plants are starting to cash out so just this bit helps after this week of near record temps and windy conditions.
ghostlyvision
10 years ago
Good for you whaas, every little bit will help. At least with the humidity level, if nothing else. lol

It's been a brutal month, I'm so glad to see it ending.

I see Farmer's Almamac is forecasting cold this winter, I won't mind, as long as it's sufficiently wet.
whaas_5a
Original Author
10 years ago
I'd agree, as long as their is sufficient snow cover I'm set. I actually enjoy November and December. Jan and Feb not so much.

March you at least have something to look forward to.

July is just as bad as Jan and Feb in my book.
mulchmama
10 years ago
Check out the color of this sky from a brief t-storm we had yesterday afternoon! I took out the power lines in the photo, but I did not touch the color. I have never seen anything like this color after a storm -- and I was so hoping for a rainbow...butno dice. Then this morning, we just had over an inch, a really serious summer storm to start the day.
mulchmama
10 years ago
Duplicate post, not my fault!

{{!gwi}}

This post was edited by MulchMama on Sun, Sep 1, 13 at 9:49
ghostlyvision
10 years ago
Wow, that's come sky color, MM!

I agree whaas, the dead middle of summer and winter are the dreads.
jillyvs
10 years ago
Thought the Kansas drought was broken....12 inches of rain in about 3 days in June and now nothing. It is September 8th and it was 102 today. Maybe the drought still has us in it's grip. Pretty tired of that and dragging hoses, trying to decide what to save and what to just let go.

Anyone else needing rain?

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ghostlyvision

ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5

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