US Weather

[Gary S]

Only mid spring and already forest fires near Ventura CA and snow for the first time ever in May in Arkansas, what the hell is happening with the weather over there.

Orchids will have no idea as to what they should be doing!

We are experiencing a normal type weather pattern so far here for our Autumn (Fall for you guys over there) in Oz.

No wonder Ed is standing his pots in saucers filled with water.

I am not sure what a WT/HT cym is supposed to make of that weather.

Hope you are all coping as best you can over there in the US.

Kind Regards

Gary..

[MrCym]

Gary, we like the heat in Salinas! It always cools off at night and even after two almost 90F days, this morning is in the high fifties with a nice humid fog-like marine layer. Southern California always gets the "Santa Ana's" which are a pain in the ass but they are certainly coming at a strange time this year. One of the problems is the "greenies" who ban controlled clearing in years that see normal rainfall and this leaves the dry years with an abundance of dry vegetation, primed for wildfires. I think the snow in middle America into May is more indicative of a possible cooling cycle.

Great day today, Derby Day with the annual "Run For The Roses" at Churchill Park in Kentucky. The US equivalent of the Melbourne Cup. I will go to the greenhouse but take off for an hour prior to the race and go see it on a big screen in town. Most of my bets are trifectas so I look to either win big or win nothing! Don't invest much anyway, we poor orchid breeders are always down to our second last dollar!

[orchids3]

This time of year is time for my twice annual trip to my small farm in Arkansas. The weather
between NE Florida and Arkansas is daunting if you look at the weather map coupled with a
rising Mississippi. See a small break tomorrow and will chance it.
Certainly not worried about my cymbidiums getting enough water but wonder if fertilizer
stays long enough to do any good. It has been raining steady for five days now.

[Albert Nakaji]

Please explain why the greenies don't want cleaning during normal years. As I understand it, leaving the debris will only accumulate and provide more fuel for the next fire. If there is guarantee that the debris will deteriorate by the next fire, that would be fine. However, no one can know when that fire will be. Brush fires are Nature's way of doing house cleaning, and there is a rationale for that. No house cleaning, and the next fire might eat up the whole house (forest) and everything else around it (as has been seen in the past). One way or another, whether it's by man or Nature, it's good to clean out potential fuel once in a while.

[Gary S]

Yes same with the greenies here, all they want to do is lock up the forests and National Parks and keep everyone out.

So when it comes to the hot summer weather - guess where most of the bushfires start!

Our authorities over the last few years have done very little back burning, but they blame the "wrong weather conditions" all the time, and never the fact that it is because the minority get there way all the time!

Mr Cym

Sounds like you have a good spot there then to grow orchids. How did you go at Derby Day - hopefully you will be up to your third last dollar now! Nigel will be pleased with that.

Regards

Gary..

[drburtm]

The last winter-spring that resembled this one we had 110 on the June solstice. Was 95 yesterday in Studio City and smelled like a barbecue was being prepared. Just hope were not the ones to be cooked.

drb

[MrCym]

Dr. Burt, I do hope this will not be a hot as hell Summer.

No joy in the Kentucky Derby, had the winner and the third horse in my trifecta but the second horse...... according to the Daily Racing Form: "Zero for three this year but he does figure to be closing". I think he is just a mudder and is unlikely to be of any consequence on a decent track. Orb, the winner, is owned by the Phipps family. The late Mr. Phipps was a very keen orchidist and had many lovely plants at his Palm Beach estate. Not short of a quid as they say!

[orchids3]

State forests in Florida are often burned in wet weather. Clearing out the undergrowth lets grass grow and supports a lot more wildlife. When the swamps burn during dry weather peat catches fire underground and is impossible to extinguish. Smoke is choking for months sometimes when management lets that happon.
It is not as bad as I remember California. There was something burning in the distance almost all summer long - I could see it from my house in Corona. Understand our native Indians did control burns long before European settlers.

[Gary S]

Not good news on the horse racing Andy - down to your last dollar now.

Time to sell some more orchids!

Gary..

[Nigel]

Talk about Greenies.............
I once lived on a farm (ranch) . It had a branch railway line running along one boundary. During a long drought, the trendy ones conducted a "steam train" ride for the city folks one Sunday arvo from Brisbane to Beaudesert. Needless to say......a line of fires followed the train line for as far as you could see. A satellite photo would have showed the route of the train. Fortunately we were entertaining that day at a BBQ and had plenty of volunteers conscripted with wet bags. They all thought it was a great adventure.

To all threatened by the fires in California, I send my best wishes and prayers.
Nigel.