Month: March 2023

The forecast said low 70’s. We didn’t get there. We did get to the mid 60’s. But it’s been cool and drizzly all day. I can’t say we really got rain where I am. It has been more like an all day mist. But now, at 10pm we have measured 0.25 inches, so a quarter of an inch of moisture.

It hasn’t really been rain. It has been just a drizzly mist. You did need windshield wipers if you drove anywhere. But from what I noticed, we only really had one short period of what I could call light rain, and that didn’t last long.

But the good thing is it is moisture, its been low and slow. Its watered plants and the ground. And hopefully it should soak into the ground. That’s what we need.

They are still talking about rain later this week. We’ll see what we get. Hopefully it will actually rain, and not just continue with this mist.

The hoped for rain didn’t materalize here. We got all of 0.04 inches, nothing really. On the other hand we have cold and wind. This morning was a lovely 41 degrees. And now, 10:30 it only 45. Humidity has dropped to 53% so I’m hard pressed to believe more rain will show up today. They have warned that a few small areas could see snow this weekend. How’s that for strange weather timing?

They say this is unseasonable cold. I’d agree with that.

Is this our new normal? If it is, I’m not quite sure what to call it.

Yesterday I did do a good look outside in the yard. You may recall I had mentioned I had taken down my gardening beds. The sides were of wood and a friend removed them for me. Well, I guess there was left over seed on that soil. The grape I had thrown out there trying to get it to die has new leaves. Carrots are coming up. So are some beets. I even saw some lettuce coming up. I do realize without those wooded sides, any water from the sprinkler system is now getting to those seeds. That is probably what is keeping them alive. But it only waters 2x a week, and then early morning (like 2am) and only about 10 minutes. Is that enough? We’ll see.

Yes, we again have some strange weather. Today, Monday it’s a lovely 61 degrees outside, at noon. Saturday we hit a lovely 90 degrees outside. Since the start of the month we’ve had mainly 80’s and high 70’s, with a 90 degree day for good measure.

But wait, there’s more!! Today we will not hit 70. We will stay in the mid 60’s. It is a cold front. And its a bit dry, not much humidity.

Rumor has it we might get rain Thursday night, maybe something Friday morning. But it will not be a lot, if we get anything. Think well less than an inch, probably less than half an inch. But with the possible rain we might get back up to 80 for just Thursday before dropping once again on Friday and next weekend. We could even had daytime highs in the 50’s next weekend. How do you like that weather forecast?

Yes, plants may need to be covered again next weekend. We could get night temperatures back in the 30’s. Hopefully if we get into the 30’s it will be high, not near freezing.

So how is this affecting plants? Well, my two grapes in pots have leafed out beautifully. My rose, in a pot is also leafing out and even has buds. I was apparently gone when the asparagus come up, now they are more like ferns. But I did get shoots. Even the plants in the grow bags are still struggling, but alive. They probably would do better if I remembered to water them. But my snow peas on the deck are blooming.

Such is the growing early season in Central Texas.

Some people have said that when pecan and mesquite start blooming, we’ve passed our last freeze. But remember, no freeze doesn’t mean we can’t get cold, hence the 30ish degrees coming, but not freezes, and not hard freezes. I don’t know if this is true, about the pecan and mesquite, but hopefully its something to consider. Considering our crazy weather, I’m hoping it has some truth to it, maybe we’ve actually had our last freeze. If that’s true, it would be something worth remembering.