While most of the rest of the continental US is in the grips of the dog days of summer, here in southwest Washington, we seem already to be celebrating autumn! For the past 10 days, we have struggled to inch the thermometer above the 60 degree mark. On average, August is our driest month of the year (1.76"), but we've already exceeded this total less than one-half the way through the month.
But here's what I find the most odd. The leaves on many of the area's deciduous trees already are starting to change color -- about one month ahead of schedule! Fall typically arrives earlier here than in most locales, but not usually as soon as early August. At the rate we're going, I bet one-third of the trees will lose their compliment of leaves by mid-September!
We're told that summer -- we've had about 4 or 5 days of it in the last two months -- will reappear for 2 or 3 days this coming week. I'm not going to hold my breath, though. Each day the forecasters keep lowering our projected summer-like temperatures. Four days ago the forecasters indicated that we might have 2 or 3 days of 90 degree plus temps. Now, it appears that only 1 day we will exceed 80.
By the time the "warm weather" gets here, I won't be surprised at all if we struggle to move beyond the low 70s.
But here's what I find the most odd. The leaves on many of the area's deciduous trees already are starting to change color -- about one month ahead of schedule! Fall typically arrives earlier here than in most locales, but not usually as soon as early August. At the rate we're going, I bet one-third of the trees will lose their compliment of leaves by mid-September!
We're told that summer -- we've had about 4 or 5 days of it in the last two months -- will reappear for 2 or 3 days this coming week. I'm not going to hold my breath, though. Each day the forecasters keep lowering our projected summer-like temperatures. Four days ago the forecasters indicated that we might have 2 or 3 days of 90 degree plus temps. Now, it appears that only 1 day we will exceed 80.
By the time the "warm weather" gets here, I won't be surprised at all if we struggle to move beyond the low 70s.
We did not see any sense of a traditional summer until August. June and July gave us record rainfall. I recorded a few posts to show how much as my backyard looked like a small pond. New England is filled with gardens planted throughout every community. This year people either have sic foot tomato plants with a few blossoms or they have tomatoes that have rotted on the vine. I planted a small raised bed and have an abundance of cucumbers and hot peppers. There is also one pumpkin about the size of a ten year old's head. Gonna make a great Jack O' Lantern for Samhein!
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