The scurs gave the Weather Eye a reprieve after generating a generally drier forecast. The threat of another trip to the Nash-Rambler dealer must’ve done the trick. Is Mother Nature going to continue to hold it or will she relieve herself? Starting Thursday, partly sunny with a modest chance of rain. Highs in the upper 60’s with lows in the low 50’s. Mostly sunny on Friday with a modest chance of evening rain. Highs in the mid-70’s with lows in the mid-50’s. Sunny on Saturday with a modest chance of rain. Highs in the low 80’s with lows in the upper 50’s. Sunday, mostly sunny with a fair chance of rain. Highs in the mid-70’s with lows in the mid-50’s. Mostly sunny on Monday with a modest chance of rain. Highs in the low 70’s and lows in the upper 50’s. Tuesday, partly sunny with highs in the mid-60’s and lows in the upper 40’s. Cloudy on Wednesday with a good chance of rain. Highs in the upper 60’s with lows in the upper 40’s. On May 19th our daily increase in daylight goes below two minutes per day. We’ll see 15 hours of daylight on the 22nd. We’ll only gain approximately another 28 minutes by the summer solstice. The normal high for May 22nd is 70 and the normal low is 51. To keep it darker in the morning, the scurs will be looking for the blind lady driving the van.
A week of planting progress, sort of. Fields began to dry sufficiently by the weekend to allow planting to commence again and to assess some of the stands in those first planted fields. Some looking fantastic and others, not so much. Much to do with where one happens to be on the drainage system and what the crop rotation happened to be. As mentioned in previous columns, corn on corn continues to provide challenges as it just doesn’t warm up as quickly as corn planted on soybean ground. Sure, the row cleaners help, but with as much wind and heavy rain as we get, pieces of residue are easily moved back over the row. The interrow region stays colder, making it much more difficult for the young corn plant to expand. Doesn’t help when air temperatures start out in the mid-40’s many mornings and struggle to get out of the 60’s for several days the first week of May.
So how did the wet spring sneak up on us after being so dry last summer? It started with rains falling after mid-September once the crop was mature and into October as temperatures cooled and days became shorter. December also provided additional moisture in the form of rain as opposed to snow. Since the ground was thawed, it added to the moisture in the soil profile. In New Richland, that amounted to over 7” of moisture total in that timeframe. Toss in roughly an inch of liquid equivalent precip that fell between January and February as snow, and melted when there was very little frost. Add in March’s contribution of a couple plus inches. April and May precip total in New Richland so far was 8.6” and six miles east, it was closer to 7.6”. Still, this more than completely recharged the top 4’ of soil. With the tile drainage systems being relied upon to take the water away with all the cool weather, it’s caused more than its share of heartaches.
At the ranch, I’m chomping at the bit to get going in the garden. My burndown treatment was successful although it took the better part of a week to see the full impact. I kept looking for skips but so far, so good. Most of what’s out there is shepherds’ purse, a biennial that got started last fall. It bolts and produces small white flowers up and down the stem. It’s not terribly competitive but it is a nuisance, especially if you want to till the garden. It will wrap up around the tines on the tiller like rope. Works nice to mow it off after it’s dead and then till the residue in. Best keep an eye out for seed corn maggots, armyworms and cutworms after planting. Like several cover crops, it attracts unwanted guests from time to time. The new breaking area of the garden was covered with downy bromegrass. Same treatment and should have the same result.
Around the bouse, Mrs. Cheviot has her planters nearly completed. Just in time as the hummingbird numbers seem to be swelling with each passing day. I hadn’t seen many, but I was curious what was drinking down the one nectar feeder more quickly than the other. Sure enough, when I got closer to it, I heard the distinct humming sound of the hummingbird wings. Apparently it’s just being secretive about it. A couple newcomers since last week. One was a bird that was out of its normal range, a male summer tanager. Apparently it was a young male that was in the process of molting. The red was very blotchy, and the body was more of an olive. The other newbies were pine siskins. We’ve seen them here occasionally over the years, but they usually don’t stick around. There are two of them, what appear to be a male and a female. Maybe this’ll be a first.
Poppy has her daily outdoor routine cut out for her. She also continues to find her niche inside. More often than not it involves ball playing and retrieving any number of her numerous toys. Something we’d forgotten about is one of the “magic words.’ Now that the temps are warming, and we get the occasional fly in the house we’ll say, “There’s a bug!” The word “bug” is a trigger for her to frantically go on a mission, running and snapping while seeking out the pest. The crazy thing is many times she’s successful. She also knows when the flyswatter comes out it’s time for action. Who needs an exterminator when you have a Corgi?
See you next week…real good then.