Odd summer, 2015

While not technically over and with some unusually warm weather in the forecast for Maine, this was an odd summer from a weather perspective. Coming off of record snowfalls, spring was very dry in our corner of the state. It was also a very cool for the first half of the summer. There were a few hot days and it looks like summer may be going to happen in September, but it's still dry. Only had to mow the lawn four times. Probably one more by the end of the month, but ....

It was so dry in the spring that hay yields have been 1/3 to 1/2 of normal. We put in bee hives for the first time and ended up with six swarms, something uncommon for new hives. Had only three pairs of barn swallows and ended up with 14-26 after hatchlings. But they went away in early August-normally they would only now be heading out. Japanese beetles were way down from two years of garden devastating hordes. For the first time in ten years apples on the tree were scab free and edible.

When it did rain it came all at once, so in some areas the total looks good, but the effect was not. getting 2-3 inches in a storm and then nothing for 2 weeks may keep averages up, but when the lawn is brown 2-3 days later, it just shows that averages don't tell the truth.

It is clear that weather/climate patterns are changing. The Jet Stream is not behaving and while El Nino has been building, one can only hope we don't get the same snow levels as last winter. Overall, it was just an odd summer.

Summer 2013: A personal Look at Climate Change

It has been an interesting summer to observe climate change and its effects. We had a cold wet spring and still had to run heat into mid-June. It was impossible to plant a garden on the traditional Memorial Day weekend. Fortunately, we started plants in the house, but actually got a picking of beans before the plants could go out.

Barn swallows were very late in coming. In 2012 I had some 40+ hatchlings in the barn. This year, 8. Humming birds showed up very late and in fewer quantities. Then we had some record breaking heat. In 2012, by August it sounded like walking on snow going to the barn, the grass was quite brown. This summer, it seems like I'm mowing the lawn every other day. Not that we have had tons of rain, but it comes every few days. In 2012, our barn was stuffed with hay by the end of June ... good thing as it all dried up in the fields later. This year, the constant wetness made fields how to mow and dry but finally got some in the first of August. Still need round bales, but also need a stretch of dry weather.

After out heat wave, the summer has been quite cool. There have been 40-50 degree nights and highs in the 60s/70s more often than not.

Back to the garden, finally did get stuff planted. The weather has been kind to squash; peas got mostly burnt out; tomatoes have done well; but the beans have been under constant attack from hordes of Japanese Beetles. We spray a mix of water and Castille soap 3-5 times a day. It kills them, but does not keep them from coming back.

The extended forecast calls for temps in the 50's nights, 70s days. Not what I would call the traditional 'dog days' of summer. Hopefully this isn't a harbinger of an early, cold winter. Ouch for the heating budget.

So yeah, things are different and the climate has gotten very unpredictable. How about you?