Re: CULT: freeze and drought update

I sure envy that 7 inches of rain you got Betty! We are still deep in drought, towns and wells dry. There was something on the news about Monteagle being completely out of water. I think our drought actually started last year, but has gotten progressively worse.
Fortunately, I get my water from a spring on my own land and it has been holding up well.
That inch or so of rain we got a couple of weeks ago is no longer showing any positive effect out in the open (i.e., pasture, lawn, streams), tho the soil is still moist under thick (8 inches) chip mulch.
We (east & parts of middle Tennessee, north GA, & Alabama) are still in the most extreme drought areas, but at least west Tennessee and most of NC are now in slightly less extreme drought.
Griff, I don't remember even seeing your part of the country on any of the drought maps, even the ones earlier in the year, but sorry to hear you are in a dry pocket as well.
Anyway, the irises seem to be enjoying "new California" here. Hardly any leaf spot, tho some did show up after the rain and week of closer to normal humidity. We actually had dew again! I put out some time release fertilizer about a month ago, trying to keep it covered with the chip mulch. Was a bit worried about the chip mulch sucking up all the nitrogen out there.
Certainly eliminated early fall bloom, but if temperatures continue relatively mild, there might be more stalks on plants I can dig for indoor winter bloom.
One light blue-violet zonal from IMMORTALITY X VIOLET CLASSIC blooming in a pot in the kitchen, stalks up on VIOLET MIRACLE, ANOTHER BRIDGE, and OVER AND OVER (which I thought died last year - it apparently likes the CA weather!)
Wonderful weather for working on labels, updating field notebook, weeding the few weeds that were foolhardy enough to germinate in that last rain, finishing mulching. Frost every night now, but warm sunny days.
As for the freeze - lost about a third to half of some crosses, but much better survival than it looked like it was going to be, and those that lived have grown really well.
The only ones that really suffered were those that didn't get mulched before hot weather set in. They survived amazingly well, but just sat there without growing, some dropping leaves. They are too small to survive any really severe winter weather, but if they get another month or so to grow, should be ok.
I keep wondering if we really are in another 15 yr drought cycle. This region will wind up back in savannah woodland instead of forest if this keeps up. 

Not sure what urban areas are going to do.
--
Linda Mann east Tennessee USA zone 7/8
East Tennessee Iris Society <http://www.DiscoverET.org/etis>
Region 7, Kentucky-Tennessee <http://www.aisregion7.org>
American Iris Society web site <http://www.irises.org>
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