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It's a 2/10 gardening year and 10/10 useable summer weather and even if we see a change next week I won't change that. 

I completely agree about the 2/10 rating for gardening this year.  The soil went from saturated sticky plasticine in the wet season (previously known as 'winter') to bone dry concrete (dry season) with a short intervening period of a couple of weeks when it was reasonably workable. The weather has often made being in the garden unpleasant - too wet, too windy - and then with an easterly flow and crystal clear skies the sun has been unpleasantly glaring (I think my eyes might be less adaptable to bright light), and this month it's been too hot. 

With regard to the drought, the grass here went brown a few weeks ago, and now well-established trees are looking stressed with their leaves curling.  In one ot two instances entire small branches have clearly died, with brown shrivelled leaves.  While I was away for a fortnight when we had the record-breaking heat about half of a creeper that I have grown to cover an unsightly fence has died because of lack of water. So, like many others I'm hoping for rain as soon as possible.

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Hopefully the bees will be more sensible than my bro-in-law and will vacate their homes if fire threatens. 

Hope all went well and bees and brother in law are ok.

I've an olive in a large pot outside the office that's thick with fruits again. Last year one or two were pickable but I've no idea how you process them, not that the numbers made it worthwhile in any case. Anyway bees and other insects loved the flowers earlier. 

I assume though I've no data to back it up that some rivers are maintained by sewage plant outflows right now. If the works are working properly this shouldn't be too much of an issue but it's still not ideal. The chalk streams a case in point for me with the Frome down the road running clear but low.

Talking about leaks there's a couple of leaks on a lane near here which I pass on my way to the coast. The water's been flowing down the side at the same rate for the past few years only this year it can't be springs. But and this is a big but, it's keeping a tiny rivulet (not a chalk origin) maybe 40cm wide at most, still flowing with the attached benefits for local wildlife. There are even some small brown trout in it someone told me. Without the artificial flow it would be dry.

Apart from the prevalent easterlies on the coast early mornings, this year it's been more than a useable summer. But dire for gardening and most wildlife.

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Hopefully the bees will be more sensible than my bro-in-law and will vacate their homes if fire threatens. 

Bees can and do abscond, Caz, they "know" about fires instinctively - one reason why a smoker steadies them down if not overdone. Trouble is, once they are gone they are gone.

I made a point of strimming a firebreak round my out-apiary. The bees HATED me doing that - too much loud buzzing!

Tip - you leave the bit by the hive entrances until last!

R.

 

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Bee can and do abscond, Caz, they "know" about fires instinctively - one reason why a smoker steadies them down if not overdone. Trouble is, once they are gone they are gone.

I made a point of strimming a firebreak round my out-apiary. The bees HATED me doing that - too much loud buzzing!

Tip - you leave the bit by the hive entrances until last!

R.

 

  His hives are at the top of his wild meadow but the woodland runs down the side, very close and all mature trees.  So very difficult to create a firebreak.  

Anyway, after a lot of damping down, the fire service have saved all bees, bro-in-law,  property and the uncut cornfield!  The emergency services did an excellent job with keeping people safe, dealing with it promptly and coordinating the evacuation.  

Not everything about living in countryside is good. 

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  His hives are at the top of his wild meadow but the woodland runs down the side, very close and all mature trees.  So very difficult to create a firebreak.  

Anyway, after a lot of damping down, the fire service have saved all bees, bro-in-law,  property and the uncut cornfield!  The emergency services did an excellent job with keeping people safe, dealing with it promptly and coordinating the evacuation.  

Not everything about living in countryside is good. 

That's a relief.

I once had an interesting conversation with an African honey hunter who climbed baobab trees naked to harvest wild honeycomb. I asked him his secrets and he said: "I take all my clothes off because the bees go mental if they get tangled in cloth. I cover my body in wood ash to smell like a fire and not a human. Then I wear these Ju-jus that protect you from getting stung!" Not my idea of PSE, but there you go.

R

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  His hives are at the top of his wild meadow but the woodland runs down the side, very close and all mature trees.  So very difficult to create a firebreak.  

Anyway, after a lot of damping down, the fire service have saved all bees, bro-in-law,  property and the uncut cornfield!  The emergency services did an excellent job with keeping people safe, dealing with it promptly and coordinating the evacuation.  

Not everything about living in countryside is good. 

Excellent Caz. So he managed to save the bees, stay safe and get some unexpected irrigation on the same day.

A smell of 'burnt' this morning on the easterly breeze.  If you've ever experienced a house fire you will know the distinct almost acrid smell after the fire. This smell though is complete different from a house fire aftermath and reminds me of the burnt stubble aroma from years' past but sadly probably a common whiff or for some an acrid one this summer for many people.

The forecast is already downplaying the risk of rain next week after yesterdays watery excitement. A zombie summer where the dry keeps returning. Thank you DEW for that description you posted earlier.

Nick

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The forecast is already downplaying the risk of rain next week after yesterdays watery excitement. A zombie summer where the dry keeps returning. Thank you DEW for that description you posted earlier.

Nick

Not originally my phrase - it was in a post from a TWO member some days back. Anyone want to claim this (fully justified) description?

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With now 8 weeks of no rainfall here it is taking its toll on the wildlife. Checked out our local Dragonfly and Damselfly ditch this morning. It was bone dry and cracked and whilst many Odonata species can tolerate this we saw just one Southern Migrant hawker, one Common Darter and no damsel flies. Over this 500m length there would normally be many species in good numbers.

The only months with over 15mm of rainfall this year have been February and May. 

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Excellent Caz. So he managed to save the bees, stay safe and get some unexpected irrigation on the same day.

A smell of 'burnt' this morning on the easterly breeze.  If you've ever experienced a house fire you will know the distinct almost acrid smell after the fire. This smell though is complete different from a house fire aftermath and reminds me of the burnt stubble aroma from years' past but sadly probably a common whiff or for some an acrid one this summer for many people.

The forecast is already downplaying the risk of rain next week after yesterdays watery excitement. A zombie summer where the dry keeps returning. Thank you DEW for that description you posted earlier.

Nick

Just spotted this story from your neck of the Woods, Nick... It may have been posted elsewhere on TWO, but just in case....

UK Heatwave: Studland fire caused by barbecue - fire service

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-dorset-62532328

 

Roger

 

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With now 8 weeks of no rainfall here it is taking its toll on the wildlife. Checked out our local Dragonfly and Damselfly ditch this morning. It was bone dry and cracked and whilst many Odonata species can tolerate this we saw just one Southern Migrant hawker, one Common Darter and no damsel flies. Over this 500m length there would normally be many species in good numbers.

The only months with over 15mm of rainfall this year have been February and May. 

That's incredible.

 

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Just spotted this story from your neck of the Woods, Nick... It may have been posted elsewhere on TWO, but just in case....

UK Heatwave: Studland fire caused by barbecue - fire service

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-dorset-62532328

Roger

Ah yes that's the one or rather there were two fires. The pics they show are a little misleading as one fire was on the heathland near Poole Harbour and the other higher up to the south I think near here https://www.dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk/nature-reserves/stonehill-down

I'm sure there have been more fires than I've ever known during this summer. They don't start by magic most of the time and need a human input such as a bottle acting like a magnifying glass, discarded fag end or other human sourced item. Very, very occasionally a compost heap as was suggested for one of the London area ones but I'm minded to think that even this one might have been had some direct human input. 

I can't wait for this dry spell to end. Putin must love seeing our crops going up in smoke and the reduction in of our winter food. If it's even been able grow that is. Potatoes come to mind. 

Nick

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Not originally my phrase - it was in a post from a TWO member some days back. Anyone want to claim this (fully justified) description?

It fits the bill perfectly on two counts!   Coincidentally, one of my sisters was complaining earlier about how tiring the heat is.  She said she’s walking around like a zombie!  So I told her that’s because it’s a zombie summer and gave her your explanation. 

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Excellent Caz. So he managed to save the bees, stay safe and get some unexpected irrigation on the same day.

A smell of 'burnt' this morning on the easterly breeze.  If you've ever experienced a house fire you will know the distinct almost acrid smell after the fire. This smell though is complete different from a house fire aftermath and reminds me of the burnt stubble aroma from years' past but sadly probably a common whiff or for some an acrid one this summer for many people.

The forecast is already downplaying the risk of rain next week after yesterdays watery excitement. A zombie summer where the dry keeps returning. Thank you DEW for that description you posted earlier.

Nick

Unexpected irrigation!     On Thursday he was complaining about the mess on his driveway from crows roosting in the overhanging trees. Crows were the least of his worries yesterday and today, he’ll be glad they’re there. 

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Ah yes that's the one or rather there were two fires. The pics they show are a little misleading as one fire was on the heathland near Poole Harbour and the other higher up to the south I think near here https://www.dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk/nature-reserves/stonehill-down

I'm sure there have been more fires than I've ever known during this summer. They don't start by magic most of the time and need a human input such as a bottle acting like a magnifying glass, discarded fag end or other human sourced item. Very, very occasionally a compost heap as was suggested for one of the London area ones but I'm minded to think that even this one might have been had some direct human input. 

I can't wait for this dry spell to end. Putin must love seeing our crops going up in smoke and the reduction in of our winter food. If it's even been able grow that is. Potatoes come to mind. 

Nick

As well as my concern that the fire service are fully stretched to breaking, I find the loss of crops worrying.  Never a day goes by when we haven’t seen a field ablaze.  Although, most has been harvested and it’s mainly straw here now. But that still means there will be a shortage for animal food and bedding this coming winter.  We’ve stopped saying everything here is yellow, it’s now looking more black  

On the subject of humans causing fire.  There really are some morons without brains. My sister walked round to visit me earlier and found a lit cigarette end on the side of the road.  There was nobody else around so she could only deduce it had been thrown from a car.  This was on a road next to a playing field as well.  I’m not calling smokers, as she and I are both smokers but wouldn’t dream of lighting up somewhere other than a designated smoking area.  

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Ah yes that's the one or rather there were two fires. The pics they show are a little misleading as one fire was on the heathland near Poole Harbour and the other higher up to the south I think near here https://www.dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk/nature-reserves/stonehill-down

I'm sure there have been more fires than I've ever known during this summer. They don't start by magic most of the time and need a human input such as a bottle acting like a magnifying glass, discarded fag end or other human sourced item. Very, very occasionally a compost heap as was suggested for one of the London area ones but I'm minded to think that even this one might have been had some direct human input. 

I can't wait for this dry spell to end. Putin must love seeing our crops going up in smoke and the reduction in of our winter food. If it's even been able grow that is. Potatoes come to mind. 

Nick

If the thugs keep hearing how easy it is to set a fire there will be plenty start doing it for fun. It is the mentality of a vandal.

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As well as my concern that the fire service are fully stretched to breaking, I find the loss of crops worrying.  Never a day goes by when we haven’t seen a field ablaze.  Although, most has been harvested and it’s mainly straw here now. But that still means there will be a shortage for animal food and bedding this coming winter.  We’ve stopped saying everything here is yellow, it’s now looking more black  

On the subject of humans causing fire.  There really are some morons without brains. My sister walked round to visit me earlier and found a lit cigarette end on the side of the road.  There was nobody else around so she could only deduce it had been thrown from a car.  This was on a road next to a playing field as well.  I’m not calling smokers, as she and I are both smokers but wouldn’t dream of lighting up somewhere other than a designated smoking area.  

I had to stamp out a small fire in dry leafs 🍃 caused by a discarded cigarette down a passage last week.  Luckily it was against a stone wall but could of soon  spread along the edge to where there's a wooden fence. 

Some people are sadly thoughtless or just don't t care. 😒 

Lightning flashing away here from some distant storm somewhere. Hopefully a cooling and replenishing shower on the way! 

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Unexpected irrigation!     On Thursday he was complaining about the mess on his driveway from crows roosting in the overhanging trees. Crows were the least of his worries yesterday and today, he’ll be glad they’re there. 

At least it's not Pure from another post.

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As well as my concern that the fire service are fully stretched to breaking, I find the loss of crops worrying.  Never a day goes by when we haven’t seen a field ablaze.  Although, most has been harvested and it’s mainly straw here now. But that still means there will be a shortage for animal food and bedding this coming winter.  We’ve stopped saying everything here is yellow, it’s now looking more black  

On the subject of humans causing fire.  There really are some morons without brains. My sister walked round to visit me earlier and found a lit cigarette end on the side of the road.  There was nobody else around so she could only deduce it had been thrown from a car.  This was on a road next to a playing field as well.  I’m not calling smokers, as she and I are both smokers but wouldn’t dream of lighting up somewhere other than a designated smoking area.  

There was a grass fire on a roundabout near Dorchester the other day. It began at was it 1or 2am? The fire brigade put it out saying it was 'spontaneous' combustion. At 1am? I guess though it was a discarded fag end from a passing car.

There's a wheat field still to be harvested at West Stafford. Adjacent to a busy road. The farmer must be itching to harvest it but there are other priorities I suppose. 

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On the subject of humans causing fire.  There really are some morons without brains. My sister walked round to visit me earlier and found a lit cigarette end on the side of the road.  There was nobody else around so she could only deduce it had been thrown from a car.  This was on a road next to a playing field as well.  I’m not calling smokers, as she and I are both smokers but wouldn’t dream of lighting up somewhere other than a designated smoking area.  

A sad reflection on our society. People dont care about anything other than themselves. A broken society, no community, no solidarity, no empathy. What a state this country is in 

 

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