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Glenna Rose · 12-07-2007, 04:50 AM posted to rec.gardens.edible

writes:
(Glenna Rose) expounded:

Actually, Billy, where I am it was 104 F yesterday. The record was 103 F
in 1926

Did I hear today that it was 99 in Portland, Oregon? Is that unusual?
--
Ann

Yes, it is rather unusual. We get into the high 90s but that is not the
rule. In this area, high 80s, low 90s is considered hot. Temps 100 and
above are the exception. My first years west of the Cascades, I thought
that was a bit odd, but have learned it's normal; however, our 95 is far
worse than east of the Cascades 105 because of the humidity. Thankfully,
it's not like Georgia and Louisiana (not that humid). Our weather is
generally mild but totally unpredictable. In any two week summer period
that temps can range 65 to 95, that's high day temp, not night and day
(sometimes even a 4-day period). Our 104 yesterday was the highest in
Washington state (I think Oregon as well but not sure); that might very
well be a first. If it wasn't a first, it sure was the exception!
Portland's high yesterday was 102; even the northern coast of Oregon was
hot. One coastal town set a record high of over 20 degrees higher of any
past year; usually the coast is much cooler than we are at 100 miles
inland. Astoria was 92, usually mid 70s like the day before when it was
70 and 66 today. The southern Oregon coast was its usual 60s and 70s.
Yesterday, even Mt. Hood was only 20 degrees cooler than Portland, not
worth the drive, me thinks.

I clearly remember a week in May, 1973, when we had cold weather (60s); my
middle son caught a cold on Monday, almost died with bronchial pneumonia
when the temp shot to high 90s on Tuesday and Wednesday; when he was out
of the hospital three days later, the temps were down again into the high
60s.

Today, Pasco got the 104 which is more like it (eastern Washington).

Weather patterns are so peculiar with one part of the country plagued with
dry, heat and wildfires and another being washed away by unusual rains.

If one were to review a history of our high/low temps in this area, the
thing that would stand out is that there really is no pattern. In 1966,
my husband's aunt and uncle visited the area for two weeks from Virginia.
We had not a drop of rain from the end of May until the end of September .
.. . except the two weeks in July they were here when it poured the entire
time. The uncle worked on a dam back east and wanted to visit Bonneville
Dam but did not because of the downpour we had. I don't even remember any
time in the 40+ years I've lived in western Washington that it was that
extreme. Usually, our Octobers are fairly wet, but October of 1988 was
dry to the end - my ex counted on the early October rain to not have to
paint the house, he delayed until the first week of October. (Do you hear
me laughing for the next four weeks as he had to finish as there was
little rain?!! There are reasons he is ex.) So really, the only thing
you can say about western Washington weather is that it is unpredictable
times ten. It makes the growing season a bit unpredictable as well.

As an aside, this is the first year we've gotten to actually pick our
cherries, both types. The starlings didn't strip the trees as they
usually do. I see few apples on the trees and only half the pears as
usual. There seems to be not too many honey bees though an ample supply
of bumble bees. I wasn't paying attention to the mason bees earlier so
can't say about them. It may be a bit early for the garden spiders (orb,
I think they're called), but there doesn't seem to be as many of them.
(All this applies to only my own yard.) With the planted crops, it's
difficult to tell as I'm not consistent about when, where and what I
plant. I did harvest my first tomatoes yesterday, but they were sun golds
so don't really count. Often by July 10th (my grandfather's birthday), I
have multiple ripe tomatoes but then I get them planted earlier than I did
this year.

This last couple of days, the two birdhouse gourd plants and luffa plants
have actually started growing, one each in the ground and one each still
in the pot. The heat has been good to them. Maybe, this will be the year
I finally get something on a gourd or luffa plant! One can hope. The
Jerusalem artichoke is doing very well, a good five feet tall - it was
mis-tagged three years ago as a comfrey plant. (Maybe the deer would like
this one?g)

As I type, the clouds have moved in, the humidity has risen very much and
it looks really dark though it's only 8:30 p.m. We have thunder and
lightening storms predicted for tonight and tomorrow night. Unpredictable
is the norm, but it's still a great place to live.

Glenna

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