The Oregon weather gods sure are a cruel & perverse lot...Last
Saturday in the Eugene area it was an unseasonably balmy 84 degrees
here and this morning we awoke to 2 inches of snow. It only lasted
until noon...that was when the hail storms started. More nasty
weather predicted for the next few days with night time lows below
freezing.

So, the flats of seedlings I'd started to harden off on the deck have
been schlepped back into the garage, and are sharing space with nine
just sprouted trays of summer annuals (in 12 hour shifts under the
grow lights. Tote that barge, lift that bale). My little greenhouse is
filled to bursting and the rest of the tender outdoor plants have been
swathed in frost cloth.

I'm one of the lucky ones - the farmers here are really going to take
a bad hit. Fruit trees had just come into bloom when this hit and it
looks like some major crops like peaches and apples are going to be
badly impacted. Haven't spoken with friends with filbert orchards,
but if this bad patch of wintery weather hits them too, look for
hazelnut prices to climb - this area is one of the largest filbert
growing areas in the country.

Nancy T

"ntantiques" wrote in message
...
The Oregon weather gods sure are a cruel & perverse lot...Last
Saturday in the Eugene area it was an unseasonably balmy 84 degrees
here and this morning we awoke to 2 inches of snow. It only lasted
until noon...that was when the hail storms started. More nasty
weather predicted for the next few days with night time lows below
freezing.

So, the flats of seedlings I'd started to harden off on the deck have
been schlepped back into the garage, and are sharing space with nine
just sprouted trays of summer annuals (in 12 hour shifts under the
grow lights. Tote that barge, lift that bale). My little greenhouse is
filled to bursting and the rest of the tender outdoor plants have been
swathed in frost cloth.

I'm one of the lucky ones - the farmers here are really going to take
a bad hit. Fruit trees had just come into bloom when this hit and it
looks like some major crops like peaches and apples are going to be
badly impacted. Haven't spoken with friends with filbert orchards,
but if this bad patch of wintery weather hits them too, look for
hazelnut prices to climb - this area is one of the largest filbert
growing areas in the country.

Nancy T
Hi Nancy If it is any consolation - here in Vancouver BC we had snow
yesterday and below 0 F temps. Brrr is exactly how I feel also Good luck
with gardening which hopefully we can start in earnest very soon Jean

Same thing happened here in Seattle. Last Saturday, 82°, my son took me out
and I bought two flats of assorted bedding plants for my balcony. Sunday I
was recovering from shopping and didn't get them planted out. As the week
progressed and temps dropped and snow started falling I was glad they were
on the livingroom floor next to the window. Last night it snowed again and
it's snowing hard now (noon-ish) as I type. Here's once when the foot
dragging procrastination pays off, my tender Spring plants are still alive
and well and indoors watching cable TV

Long term forecast indicates that about Wednesday it's going to be safe to
put them out....we'll see, things are subject to change around the PNW
without notice.

Val
"ntantiques" wrote in message
...
The Oregon weather gods sure are a cruel & perverse lot...Last
Saturday in the Eugene area it was an unseasonably balmy 84 degrees
here and this morning we awoke to 2 inches of snow. It only lasted
until noon...that was when the hail storms started. More nasty
weather predicted for the next few days with night time lows below
freezing.

So, the flats of seedlings I'd started to harden off on the deck have
been schlepped back into the garage, and are sharing space with nine
just sprouted trays of summer annuals (in 12 hour shifts under the
grow lights. Tote that barge, lift that bale). My little greenhouse is
filled to bursting and the rest of the tender outdoor plants have been
swathed in frost cloth.

I'm one of the lucky ones - the farmers here are really going to take
a bad hit. Fruit trees had just come into bloom when this hit and it
looks like some major crops like peaches and apples are going to be
badly impacted. Haven't spoken with friends with filbert orchards,
but if this bad patch of wintery weather hits them too, look for
hazelnut prices to climb - this area is one of the largest filbert
growing areas in the country.

Nancy T

On Apr 20, 12:08 pm, "Val" wrote:
(snipped)
Long term forecast indicates that about Wednesday it's going to be safe to
put them out....we'll see, things are subject to change around the PNW
without notice.

Val

You can say that again! It hailed like mad all evening and snowed
another couple of inches again overnight on top of the drifts of
hail. Melted off by noon, but too chilly to put my flats outdoors
even for a while. At least I'm not dealing with zero degree temps
like poor Jean in Vancouver - that's some serious cold.

Many of the seedlings I'm obsessing about are destined for my Garden
Club's plant sale on 5/3 and was hoping to have them looking
deliciously enticing by then. It's always a terrific sale - a
fundraiser with the profits going to fund college scholarships for
local kids. Has been a joy growing all these little plants - most of
mine are herbs (several thyme varieties, marjoram, several oregano
varieties, sage, sweet Italian & purple ruffled basils, cilantro)
with Envy Zinnias and Vanilla Marigolds tossed in for fun. My cuttings
( Artemesia, Penstemon, Rosemary, Spanish Lavender, and Pelargoniums)
are all doing well in someone else's greenhouse.

Have had a ball growing from seed in the garage using heat mats & grow
lights. Sure brightened my spirits during this year's endless winter,
but clearly I'm going to have to think about building another
greenhouse if I want to be able to have my own little mini-nursery -
Mother Nature is just too darned unpredictable.

Nancy T