Why do these pretty flowers fill me with dread? They're full-blown blooms from my peach tree... in March! These babies--and the pretty white clusters on my cherry tree--are at least a full 3 weeks ahead of schedule. They've all been lulled into a false sense of security by the incredibly warm weather we've had this past week.
Steve thinks that I'm a bit too pessimistic at times, always looking for the other shoe to drop... but this time, my fears are well founded. It is supposed to dip back down below 32 degrees for at least one night next week, as the temperatures fall to more normal March levels.
And who knows what to expect beyond that--there's no reason to think that this year of crazy weather will become any more predictable than it has been thus far. I guess that, as always, we just wait, watch... and deal with whatever hand Mother Nature decides to deal us.
(Psst... hey, Ma. I'm probably only going to be here in this house for this one last harvest. Throw a gardener a bone, will ya?!)
10 comments:
Does the frost hurt the plant, or just this year's crop? Our new (planted in late summer) apple tree has a dozen beautiful tiny green buds. I was wondering if that was bad for it.
No worries, Meagan. It typically won't hurt the tree to bloom and leaf out before the first frost, but it could definitely cut this year's crop.
That said, if you do get some buds this year... I would actually pinch the flowers off. I did that to all of my trees for the first year--it lets the plant put its energy into getting established and is better in the long run. (But a bummer, I know!)
We all have the same worry in the east. Just can't believe the way stuff is blooming. We are bound to get at least one freeze before summer is here to stay. 86 in March is fun, but not normal. I guess we may have to get used to a new "normal."
nellie
Beyond My Garden, doesn't it seem like the "new normal" is still trying to figure out what it wants to be, too?
For the past 2-3 years here, it has felt like our seasons shifted a week or two later. (Even when plants bloomed at "the right time," it still felt cooler than normal in the spring, for example... and "Indian Summer" stretched so far into fall that it felt like it was butting up against winter most of the time.) So confusing!
Your peach blossoms are so pretty. Like you I cannot believe this weather and I am waiting for the blizzard in April. If it stays nice until summer I will be one surprised lady. We have to take what we get I guess but it makes me pretty uneasy. LOL! Have a terrific weekend.
Dear Kim - I too am concerned because my peach tree is in full bloom as well. Last year it had such an abundant crop. Perhaps the weather man is wrong and it will stay about 32 - pray and hope for the best.
Mostly I am thinking about our farmers who make their bread and butter off the crops. It could be a hard year for them.
Lona, same here re: the April blizzard! In fact, the Easter snowstorm we had a few years ago was referenced more than once in conversations I had last week. :-( Hope you have a terrific weekend, too!
Debbie, good point re: The farmers. I can always go out and buy peaches, but even those farmers with insurance will have a rough year if the crops fail. We'll all have to hope for the best together!
Kim, I am completely at a loss on how to think about the garden this year or even from now on...Oh well, we do have pretty flowers to charm us! gail
Been feeling dread over the same thing. We dipped to 27 the other night and while most things were fine with it my Hydrangea did not dig it very much.
The other shoe dropped here repeatedly. I guess this is what separates the real gardeners from the pretenders. Sigh...
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