Spring Weather 2011

[Lesley Cox]

This will keep Fermi and Will happy

I just heard on TV that April so far has had temperatures 60% above normal

They arrive here on Monday for a very full 5 days

They won't want to come home then. Temps in the southern hemi are about 60% BELOW normal, and wet with it. We had first snow on Saturday night on the hills around Dunedin, and a light frost this morning.

[Maggi Young]

I don't think they're due in Ireland until NEXT Monday... it could be snowing by then! 

[mark smyth]

Maggi dont put a damper on the weather

[Maggi Young]

We've just had a pretty heavy April shower here... after Ian has been watering all day   

 Garden needs it though. 

Thank goodness the weather was dry for the Alpines 2011 conference... otherwise there would have been a lot of VERY wet delegates as we tramped back and forth from the residences to the centre.
we were worried about fermi's chest but it was Will who had a terrible cough...... hope we can heat them up nicely  again soon!

[Houseslippers]

I'm desperate for water down south. No real rain for some weeks now. For once, I'm hoping it pours over Easter  Here's hoping it chucks it down for the Royal Wedding

[mark smyth]

Tony I'm with you also. I dont know when the last big down pour came. I'm not complaining because I love it but my plants are suffereing. The weather forecast is for record breaking April temperatures this weekend. Fingers and toes crossed for Fermi and Will

Today we had our hottest day of the year - 22c.

[angie]

Mark is that -22 c  we are having our usual pea soup weather for this time of year. Maybe Maggi is in full sun, across the river and away from the coast is a different world. One thing there is no chance of my plants suffering drought conditions. Hope today is as nice Mark.

Angie

[Roma]

Sun's out here now, Angie.  There hasn't been enough rain to do much good.  It has perked up some plants which were wilting but flowers are going over so fast.  Off outside now to water the coldframe.  The hinged lids do not allow water to reach any pots not close to the front wall.

[angie]

Hi Roma, sun is nearly out here . I like Ian had just finished watering part of the garden yesterday when we got a good heavy shower. But the ground was really needing it. I do feel sorry for you folks that have had no rain.
I have been struggling since I came back from the conference with my back so I am glad I didn't have to water all the garden. , my back has been real sore . I blame the hard bed or maybe it was all that food I had consumed, probally my back had a lot more work to do holding up my full tummy anyway I am away to water the greenhouse, pity I couldn't just open the roof when the rain comes.

Angie

[Maren]

Hi Angie,

what you need to save your back is a nice big cistern in your greenhouse and a pump connected to a hosepipe and lance. Then watering is a doddle. The water can come from your greenhouse guttering (you do have it???) or a hosepipe. Best to leave it for 24 hours to get rid of the chlorine and reach greenhouse temperature.

[vivienr]

We are also desperate for rain here. The driest March for over 50 years followed by a hot April with only two short showers that I can remember. Local moorland fires during nesting season have been devastating and, with people planning Easter barbecues in the hot weather, are likely to continue.
Flowers are going over so quickly, the ground is rock hard and the air very dusty. Our records show the first apple blossom coming out 3 weeks earlier than last year so that we had cherry, pear, plum and apple blossom out all at the same time. Very pretty, but there are not enough insects to get round all that lot at once!

[Darren]

Scorcher here today also. Beaches in Morecambe were packed when I went past ealier - and that never happens even in August...

[mark smyth]

150 fires have been set alight in the Belfast hills. Near my house a field of gorse was set on fire yesterday

[angie]

Hi Angie,

what you need to save your back is a nice big cistern in your greenhouse and a pump connected to a hosepipe and lance. Then watering is a doddle. The water can come from your greenhouse guttering (you do have it???) or a hosepipe. Best to leave it for 24 hours to get rid of the chlorine and reach greenhouse temperature.

Maren will pass this information on to my husband ,  yep the greenhouse has guttering.

Darren I am jealous we had mist in the morning then the sun came through but it was still cold as the wind was coming straight of the North Sea 

Angie

[Panu]

Today +4 and some wet snow :/ However, the snow has melt and the first crocuses bloomed a week ago. Length of the day 15 h 45 min.