Re: Re: CULT: freeze and drought update

Linda  --  Since the four days of slow rain a week or so ago, we've been
reclassified to "moderate" from "severe" drought. We had lots of wind but less than 1/4" of rain last night, but we're still more than 9 inches short this year, so we have a long way to go until we're back to normal. The weather service has forecast the drought to continue here through ecember. -- Griff
----- Original Message ----- From: "Linda Mann" <lmann@lock-net.com> 
To: <iris@hort.net>
Sent: Monday, November 05, 2007 7:50 AM
Subject: [iris] 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>
talk archives: <http://www.hort.net/lists/iris-talk/>
photos archives: <http://www.hort.net/lists/iris-photos/>
online R&I <http://www.irisregister.com>

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