Too hot, too soon

Alas, it just dawned on me that I may not have a summer crop of tomatoes or many other vegetables.  Tomatoes rarely set fruit above 90 f and we've been over 90 for almost 2 weeks, up to 99 f Sunday.  The weather service predicts 100 f in the next few days.  This has been a strange year for weather, from one of our coldest winters to such early high temperatures.  We had a 24 hour snowfall, 12 1/2" that tied a 111 year old record (I know that my northern friends will chuckle, since that is a normal winter happening for them.  I attended Wyoming University at Laramie so I know what snow is.) that did millions of dollars in damages to our southern trees, especially the beautiful live oaks that were covered with leaves. 

I remember the summer of 1981 when we had  70 days over 100 up to 113 f.  We still had a few truck farms along the Trinity River bottoms then and the crops only wilted even though they were irrigated daily.  People mounted sprinklers on their roofs, because air conditioners were running constantly and still couldn't cool the houses.  horses and cattle starved for lack of fodder, hay had to be freighted in if it could be found in other states.  Many small  lakes dried completely and water had to be hauled in to many small cities.

I love where I live and have plans to finish my time, I hope it's a long time because overall life is enjoyable and interesting, right here.  At least we are starting with full lakes this season.

Please forgive my rant that began in my mind when I cut a hot house tomato after having one grown in my kitchen garden.

Life remains good even when we have a few setbacks. 

Stay natural.

David