The scurs got continued cooperation from the Weather Eye last weekend, making everyone smile. Are we due for a letdown or to continue hurtling headlong into summer? Starting Wednesday, mostly cloudy with a modest chance of a shower or thunderstorm. Highs in the upper 60’s with lows in the low 50’s. Thursday, partly sunny becoming mostly cloudy with a good chance of rain. Highs in the mid-60’s with lows in the mid-40’s. Cloudy on Friday with a good chance of rain. Highs in the upper 50’s with lows in the mid-40’s. Saturday, mostly cloudy with a good chance of rain. Highs in the upper 50’s with lows in the mid-40’s. Mostly cloudy for Sunday with highs in the low 60’s and lows in the mid-40’s.  Monday, mostly sunny with highs in the low 70’s and lows in the low 50’s. Partly cloudy Tuesday with possible showers and thunderstorms. Highs in the upper 70’s with lows in the mid-50’s. On May 12th we’re back to an 8:30 sunset, the same as we saw last August 7th. The normal high for May 12th is 68 and the normal low is 47. The scurs are taking Mother’s Day off so will focus their efforts on a major league nap.

Vista’s noted Swedish astronomer paid a visit last week on one of his scheduled appointments. We mainly got caught up on old cars and even older women but had time for some astronomical discourse as well. Right now the big show in the night skies involves Venus and Jupiter. Very bright Venus can be seen in the western sky about one-quarter of the way up shortly after sunset and sets approximately two hours later. Jupiter rises in the east around sunset and sets in the west around sunrise. Jupiter will be extremely noticeable (if not cloudy) as this week marks what is known as an opposition. The earth is between the largest planet and the sun. When it rises around sunset and is up all night long, that’s an opposition. No opposition when the noted Swedish astronomer decides it’s time to make his next appointment. After all he’s a busy guy.

Progress in the fields finally began on a wholesale basis across much of the area over the weekend. Some progress had been made earlier, although showers last week limited the planting progress. Some of the corn planted on April 29th is starting to emerge and early planted soybeans should pop out of the ground very soon. If the weather holds until press time, most of the corn will be planted in the area. Soybean planting progress has been moving along as well, some of it under the radar. Since some have multiple planters with operators available to run them, it only makes sense. Soil moisture has been adequate yet not excessive thus far. With a little sun and a breeze, it’s allowed field conditions to recover quickly so planting can resume. As of this writing however rain is moving in. Farmers are scrambling to finish or get to a stopping point before it brings their progress to a screeching halt.

Some minor gardening effort so far at the ranch. The evening of the 1st I quickly grubbed in a couple short rows of radishes while sharp lightning made it known a thundershower was imminent. By Saturday the 5th they were starting to emerge. The peonies quickly made their move as well on the southern exposure where they’re planted. The rhubarb planted nearby had stolen the show becoming massive in a matter of a few days. Massive enough so that Mrs. Cheviot manufactured a delicious pie on Sunday. One couldn’t even tell that any had even been harvested. Other plants around the yard are coming to life as well. The lilies of the valley were slow. With the warmer temps they suddenly erupted. Even slower were the tiger lilies around the LP tank. One is reminded quickly of their position in partial shade when compared to the tiger lilies planted by the rhubarb. The difference in growth is night and day. The fruit trees are poised to burst into bloom soon and the trees in general are greening up. More cover for the newly arrived feathered friends.

The rains and warmer temperatures have caused area lawns to really explode and the yard at the ranch is no exceptions. Getting all the sticks picked up before turning the mowers loose is critical especially near the house. Sticks become projectiles and easily make holes in vinyl siding. Speaking from experience. The last of the face slapper and eye gouger limbs and branches were pruned off the offending trees as well. Getting that out of the way actually has me looking forward somewhat to mowing. Now I can focus on more important matters like trying to avoid rolling the mower on the road cut!

On the still evening of the 2nd the western chorus frogs reached a crescendo in the wetland whilst I was out grilling on the patio. Coupled with sandhill crane and Canada goose playing lead, it was almost surreal. Two nights later when grilling, the chorus frogs were getting serious competition from the American toads. 10 days ago I’d moved a slab of concrete and noticed a toad burrowed in underneath it. To avoid squashing it when I put the concrete back down I moved the toad to a safe spot. It apparently wasn’t quite ready for spring and burrowed back in under some debris. Have a hunch we may see the Reader’s Digest version of spring this year. A lot of typical spring occurrences seem to be crammed into a relatively narrow timeframe. Just thankful the ground isn’t white anymore. Enough is too much.  

As usual, about the time this gets sent out a new batch of migrating birds appears at the ranch. The May 2nd arrivals included Harris’s, white crowned and Lincoln’s sparrows. This was the first year I recall seeing the Lincoln’s sparrows. All of them are on their way north to the boreal forests of Canada and in some cases perhaps northern Minnesota. Putting out the hummingbird feeder yielded dividends. The first one arrived on May 2nd. A rose-breasted grosbeak was eating out of the jelly feeder on May 6th and a gray catbird was also enjoying some a few minutes later. The orioles arrived with fanfare on the 8th. Seated in the oval office, I thought I could hear one nearby. Sure enough there was a male Baltimore oriole in the silver maple tree singing away with his behind pointed at me. A half hour later there were three male Baltimore types along with a male orchard oriole squabbling over dibs on the jelly feeder. Going to be a good day when that happens.

See you next week…real good then.