June 29-30, 2012

This has to be the worst June ever, still no rain and temperatures around 100 all week -- and its only the beginning of summer. I thought it was dry for the wedding, but now we are really toast (literally and figuratively). We went from a mild drought, to a moderate drought, to a severe drought in three weeks, and that was two weeks ago. I wonder if it's been classified as an extreme drought yet (the last and worst level)?

Garden

Only a few things have died so far, but its not looking good. Even the summer spinach was all wilted. Sally picked green beans, two tomatoes (with lots of green ones on the vine), a couple of zuchinni, chard, enough basil for a double batch, and most of the remaining onions. I watered and weeded, and found only 1 tomato horn worm (but knew there were others disguised amongst the leaves). Some green beans and sunflowers didn't make it.

Watering

I spent 3 hours Friday just watering. Beside the garden, I put the soaker hoses on the apples and pears, the sprinkler on Sally's sole tree, and hand watered all the trees and the flower garden out front. The peach had lost almost all its leaves, so I think it is a goner. A couple of my little transplants out front are struggling and I doubt they will survive the summer. Now I have begun to worry about the well running dry.

Pond

I drove the mower down to cut the grass in the low area by the Sycamores and on the south side of the pond, and to get there to spread more bacteria (to eat up the muck on the bottom). I distributed 16 packets, and now have only about 10 left form my purchase of 80 last summer. I'm going on faith they are doing some good in my battle with weeds and algae in the pond. The pond is very low.

I checked the bird house while there, and sure enough there were three good size deceased bluebird babies. Such is nature. I cleaned out the house.

Creeks

There is no water running anywhere, not in the creeks or the spring. This good size sycamore along one of the creeks looks like it is dying. In the foreground is Knapweed, which doesn't seem to mind the hot dry weather, in full bloom.

Barn Piers

Before leaving I took my tape measure, chain saw, and drill down to the barn. I wanted to erect two of my largest cedar posts on top of these empty piers and then attach them to the truss above. I cut them to what I hope is the right length and drilled a hole in the bottom. The re-bar extending out the top of the piers should fit into the hole and keep the bottom of the posts from moving. Its just something else to do with some of the posts, and I think will look better than these empty piers. (Why were they poured anyway?) I may need some help holding them up while I attach them at the top -- perhaps a task for Armin when he visits.