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this drought is already taking a toll
2021-Jun-13, Sunday 12:04 pmThe heat wave continues in Minnesota. Grass lawns in the neighborhood look half dead already. The heat and the drought are both unusual, and together they are taking a toll on my garden. Throughout the state, farmers are already concerned about their crops. The forecast holds no significant rainfall.
I tried watering my cherry tree this year. It's taller than I am, but I've never gotten fruit to stay on it until ripe. I watered this morning, and I saw only 3 cherries remaining. This photo is one of them, looking sort of like a small olive. At least the wild strawberries are producing in their semi-shaded area. They are yummy. The fruits are always much smaller than developed varieties, but the taste is so much better. They are like raspberry sweet tart candies. So sour and sweet at the same time. I picked a few and ate them while watering this morning.
The heat and drought have killed a few plants, including much of the stuff I newly planted this year. One of the juneberries I planted a few weeks ago has about half a dozen leaves remaining. A kiwi vine that's survived for 5 years has a lot of burned leaves on it, but I think it will survive. One of the old honeysuckles is gone. At least the other honeysuckle seems to be growing well this year. It and the crown vetch are blooming right now. I tried to photograph one of the tiny bees on the vetch, but it was too small and fast for my smartphone to capture. Those bees are a significant reason for converting my yard away from grass. I'm glad to see a few of them still around. The new bamboo house I put up for them this year is still empty, which was worrying.
Some of the shady garden wildflower seed that I planted by the neighbor house is finally showing flowers. I think a lot of it didn't produce plants, but I do at least have plenty of elegant clarkia and baby's breath (both pictured below). I also put some fern and hosta in that area. I learned this year that squirrels apparently like the smell of newly earthed hosta roots. They stole several of them, but enough plants remain to make a difference.
We need rain. Minnesota was supposed to benefit from global warming in that our already rich rainfall was supposed to grow even more abundant. It won't help, though, if it all falls in short bursts between droughts, which is another potential danger of climate change.
I tried watering my cherry tree this year. It's taller than I am, but I've never gotten fruit to stay on it until ripe. I watered this morning, and I saw only 3 cherries remaining. This photo is one of them, looking sort of like a small olive. At least the wild strawberries are producing in their semi-shaded area. They are yummy. The fruits are always much smaller than developed varieties, but the taste is so much better. They are like raspberry sweet tart candies. So sour and sweet at the same time. I picked a few and ate them while watering this morning.
The heat and drought have killed a few plants, including much of the stuff I newly planted this year. One of the juneberries I planted a few weeks ago has about half a dozen leaves remaining. A kiwi vine that's survived for 5 years has a lot of burned leaves on it, but I think it will survive. One of the old honeysuckles is gone. At least the other honeysuckle seems to be growing well this year. It and the crown vetch are blooming right now. I tried to photograph one of the tiny bees on the vetch, but it was too small and fast for my smartphone to capture. Those bees are a significant reason for converting my yard away from grass. I'm glad to see a few of them still around. The new bamboo house I put up for them this year is still empty, which was worrying.
Some of the shady garden wildflower seed that I planted by the neighbor house is finally showing flowers. I think a lot of it didn't produce plants, but I do at least have plenty of elegant clarkia and baby's breath (both pictured below). I also put some fern and hosta in that area. I learned this year that squirrels apparently like the smell of newly earthed hosta roots. They stole several of them, but enough plants remain to make a difference.
We need rain. Minnesota was supposed to benefit from global warming in that our already rich rainfall was supposed to grow even more abundant. It won't help, though, if it all falls in short bursts between droughts, which is another potential danger of climate change.