The scurs have certainly have had the rain dance down this growing season. Will they come through with a sun dance for this week? Starting Wednesday, partly cloudy with a modest chance for showers and thunderstorms. Highs in the upper 80s and lows in the upper 60s. Thursday, mostly sunny with highs in the mid 80s and lows in the mid 60s. Mostly sunny for Friday with highs in the low 80’s and lows in the low 60s. Mostly sunny for Saturday and Sunday with a slight chance of shower or thunderstorm both days. Highs in the upper 70s and lows near 60. Monday, mostly sunny becoming partly to mostly cloudy with a modest chance of a shower or thunderstorm. Highs in the mid 70s and lows in the mid 50s. Tuesday, mostly cloudy with a chance of a shower or thunderstorm. Highs in the mid 70s and lows in the mid 50s. On July 1st we will have lost approximately 3 minutes of daylight since the summer solstice. The normal high for July 1st is 82 and the normal low is 61. The scurs will be floating on their rubber ducky if it isn’t raining of course.
More heartbreak in area fields as farmers attempted to get one last push in before most contemplate throwing in the towel. Many tractor, sprayer and other equipment operators found themselves stuck as they tried desperately to maneuver around the wet spots. It has been a miserable planting season and one we can’t get behind us fast enough. Measurable precipitation has fallen now 15 out the 25 days in June thus far at the ranch. While not threatening the 8+” of precipitation in May, the frequency of rain is rivaling it. Some of the early June planted corn actually looks all right. The stands are uniform and not characterized by the large blank spots typical of some of the mid May plantings. Post emerge spraying on corn has been an absolute fright due to the wet fields not to mention the possibility of a sudden shower washing the herbicide off before it has a chance to work. Some are contemplating adding additional nitrogen to the corn although getting it applied may be difficult with a ground rig for a while. Soybeans have emerged almost as well as the June corn although after the heavy weekend downpours, areas of some fields are once again under water. Small grain fields generally speaking simply look ugly. The excess rains haven’t been kind to them either.
Lawns continue to make up for lost time after last year’s drought. One of the worst problems at the ranch has been the lack of dry conditions in which to mow. That and the mosquito population has been booming. I’ve come to dread the electric fencer being grounded out as that means a trip around the fence to contend with a continual swarm of not only mosquitoes but now deer flies as well. With no breeze usually about the time it happens, the easiest way to deal with them has been to put on the hooded sweatshirt and cinch the hood up tight so they can’t get at me. Sure it’s pretty warm but short of slathering myself with repellent, it’s a small price to pay as long as the AC is working in the truck when I hop back in.
More of the old reliables are back at the feeders again, namely the rose-breasted grosbeaks, indigo buntings and an occasional chickadee. The orioles and catbirds are still active as are the hummingbirds although their feeders were becoming overrun by black ants. A quick trip to get a few ant guards after ridding the feeders of the pests and they’re remained ant free ever since. Now if I could just get the robin using the rain gauge as a toilet or the barn swallows attempting to build a nest over the front door to cease and desist. Around the countryside in my travels this past week, there were several sightings of pheasant broods, some of them as large as a dozen or so in a group. One possible benefit from all the prevented plant acreage may be the establishment of more diverse temporary habitat. Speaking of prevented planting, the garden here will provide very little in the way of habitat I’m afraid, unless you count the one hill of zucchini that made its way into the ground.
Some have inquired how the cut over my eye has healed. Fine, thanks, although no one ever told me that the surgical glue would take a good chunk of my eyebrow with it when it decided to let go. I must’ve caught it in my sleep one night because when I looked in the mirror the next morning, I felt a little like Uncle Leo from Seinfeld after his stove blew up. Perhaps I could get Elaine to draw the missing hair in with a marker. Mrs. Cheviot thought that perhaps I should just get the other one waxed to match. Given my propensity to drive the soccer mom van on excursions hither and yon, that might not be a bad idea. I could probably get my bikini wax at the same time.
See you next week…real good then.