Thought for the day - May 6, 2000

Subject: Thought for the day - May 6, 2000
From: katlaughing
Date: 06 May 00 - 01:00 AM

Old timers here have always warned, "Don't plant until after the first week in May!" It can snow, hail, rain buckets and just generally destroy a garden.

One year we had such a wet and heavy snow, it literally broke the top third off of several thousands of lodgepole pines on the mountain. One can still see the dead stumps of all that was cleared out to prevent forest fires. The forest looks skimpy and bare.

This year has been weird. It went from cold to coolish, to the past three days of 80 degree weather, record-breaking degrees, very unusual for Wymoming in May. What has really made it seem rather surreal is seeing tulips bloom in that high heat; poor things, they got caught out.

My irises are just starting to streach for the sky and show their buds; the lilacs next door are barely opening their fragrant flowers; hardly any of the deciduous trees have even started to leaf out; and, we get sudden summer temps.

Last week when we went up the mountain, we still had huge snowdrifts to plow through, no wildflowers in sight. Yesterday, we went to the tranmsitter up there, no snowdrifts, just a few banks plowed to the side, finally, on a road which has been closed since October.

Up on the rocky, open hill where the transmitters all are planted, I saw a few brave flowers opening up, the scouts of ladyslipper orchids, wild snapdragons, and others whose names I do not know. Just a few, here and there, basking in the heat, sticking their toes in, telling all, "come on in the water/air is fine!" Beautiful, tiny, tiny treasures, which will soon blanket the entire baldy pate.

But, it is still weird to see blooming tulips in the summer-like heat.

kat

Subject: RE: Thought for the day - May 6, 2000
From: Sorcha
Date: 06 May 00 - 01:27 AM

Also in Wyoming, here, and it is a weird year. 98F here yesterday, kat! Already!! Lilacs in full bloom, tulips wilting in Spring. I am very concerned about the water supply for this summer, and cut way back on the garden. My question/thought for the day:
Water sort of re cycles its self, right? Rain to ground, to evaporation, to rain? So, where is all the water going? Why are the aquafiers not filling back up? We take our water out of the river (North Platte),put it on the plants and in the ground, and it dissapears.......we can NOT water on the wrong day of the week, a la Florida, but if it doesnt go back to the river, or to evaporation to fall elsewhere, where does it go? Where is Eienstien, when matter does not conform?

Subject: RE: Thought for the day - May 6, 2000
From: BlueJay
Date: 06 May 00 - 02:22 AM

Sorcha- It goes to Aurora, Colorado, where it evaporates from grass clippings in the dump. From there it's blown eastward, falling as rain and challenging levees throughout the Mississippi River Basin. I would assume that the water is then emptied into the Gulf, eventually to be deposited in the streets of Galveston via hurricanes. The microbreweries there then use it to produce products such as "Kat's Garden Pale Ale", which is then shipped to me. Thanks to my kidneys, it ends up in my towns sewer system. Aurora hasn't yet bought those water rights, so it eventually DOES replenish the aquafier! Just trying to do my part. BlueJay

Subject: RE: Thought for the day - May 6, 2000
From: Sorcha
Date: 06 May 00 - 02:30 AM

LOL, BlueJay, always thought it was Boulder that was taking care of all the evoiro/pc stuff!! Glad to know this, and that Nebraska isn't getting all the water!!

Subject: RE: Thought for the day - May 6, 2000
From: BlueJay
Date: 06 May 00 - 03:55 AM

I wouldn't buy any real estate in Nebraska. Those folks had better get used to the idea that once the Ogalalla aquifier is depleted, the whole state is going to drop 200-300 feet in elevation, and is destined to become our sixth "Great Lake". Given the flow rates of the North and South Platte Rivers, it'll probably take a hundred years or so. Kansas, too. I'm hanging on to my beachfront property in Trinidad! I'm already getting my kids accustomed to boating. You know, get the genetics in place for the future! BlueJay

Subject: RE: Thought for the day - May 6, 2000
From: GUEST,Peter T.
Date: 06 May 00 - 09:04 AM

I don't know about Wyoming, but the problem in some parts of Canada is that while the aquifers do fill back up, it takes time. My understanding is that you also have had a few years now without long periods of heavy snow, so there is likely to be a delay time before the base levels are reached again. I could be totally wrong -- don't know about your local conditions -- but that is the usual problem (Apart from sucking the aquifers dry, which is going on elsewhere).
Here in Toronto, spent a delightful evening with Duckboots and Rick, and friends, admiring the tulips and other plants out way, way ahead of their time. Temperature will be in the 80's today -- not usual early May in Toronto weather, though it does happen.
yours, Peter T.

Subject: RE: Thought for the day - May 6, 2000
From: keltcgrasshoppper
Date: 06 May 00 - 10:26 AM

Its a beautiful day here in Mass.. The lilacs are out.. as well as the tulips... And the planets are alligned..I probably spelled that wrong it was an attempt at humor..Spring does it to me.. Have a great day all KGH

Subject: RE: Thought for the day - May 6, 2000
From: JenEllen
Date: 06 May 00 - 12:11 PM

Beautiful day in the Northwest...but COLD! We hit 31*F last night. Made some tea, grabbed the blankie, and snuggled in to finish a book of Tennessee Williams short stories.

Today, the sun is out. All the makings for a glorious Bloomsday weekend. Hope the sun is shining wherever you are, Jen