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Tuesday, April 23, 2013

Utterly Ridiculous!

All right, who's responsible?  Snow?  On the 23rd of April?  Unheard of.  I have never seen snow this late in the year in the 24 years I've lived in Kansas.   The latest I can remember was the devastating late snow of April 5th, 2007, the year I now refer to as "the year without flowers."  It is 32°F here this morning, heading for a high of 43° and a low tonight of 25°.










I can only surmise that this is yet another predicted calamity resulting from The Sequester.  It's being blamed for everything else right now, why not this aberrant weather?  The Feds must have furloughed the guy responsible for Global Warming.  If not, then I want that guy fired immediately because he's not fulfilling his promises.  At this rate we're going to slip back from zone 6A to 5B.  According to the Midwest Regional Climate Center we are 13 days past our median last FREEZE of 28°F in Manhattan, 8 days past our median last FROST!  Our 95% frost free date here is May 9th.  Will we be extending that this year?  Will we break the freeze all time record of May 27th, set in 1907?  I'm starting to wonder.

The plants here knew what was coming.   Everything is late to bloom, and I've had little reason to blog.  Unlike 2007, not even my earliest lilac has yet bloomed, but it was only a couple of days away, as was my ornamental Red Peach tree.  But they're not delayed enough.  Tulips in the snow?  I've seen daffodils in the snow several times, but never tulips.  My peaches and apples were blooming this weekend, so I can kiss those crops goodbye.  The star magnolia and 'Ann' and 'Jane' magnolias are in full bloom right now.  Goodbye magnolias.  My 'Yellow Bird' magnolia is still in bud phase, but I don't know if those fuzzy buds are tight enough to stand tonight's freeze. 






I stand here in Kansas, rejected, dejected, and neglected, as the snow continues to fall.  The picture below was taken early this morning at first light.  It has since snowed another inch and it is still coming down.  The prairie grass is completely covered now.   I've got 11 new rose bands currently in transit, with delivery expected on Thursday.

There is a predicted high of 81°F this coming Sunday.  Just in time to roast the just transplanted roses.


6 comments:

  1. Snow? I'm really sorry. Around here, we still talk about the Easter Freeze from a few years ago ... you have conversations about snow to occupy your garden whining time now. Snow? Really? Mother Nature has a really sick sense of humor.

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  2. It's sad isn't it? Suppose to be down to 28 here tonight. Covered my potato's of all things this afternoon. I suppose we just roll with the punches.

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    1. Yikes, I never thought about covering the potatoes. I think mine are probably up but haven't checked.

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  3. I hadn't thought of the sequester! You must be right - they didn't have enough money to pay the heating bills! :) This weather is truly crazy. Although it didn't freeze here last night, today is going to be too cold to work outside. But - snow! Wow. Then 80's! Poor plants!

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  4. Dude, I don't blame you for being mad...we never, I mean never get now here but I would be livid, if I were you....

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