Cold Front

With some of the hottest and most humid weather on record for the past few weeks we were greeted to quite a show this am. I awoke to a sunny morning but very early an quickly clouds moved in. We have been breaking records every day and the weather lady warned that we might have some thunder and lightening.

At about 8.30 am the darkening sky gave way to a blast from mother nature in the form of a far off thunder clap. Within minutes the rain came in torrents and lightening flashed . Our eave troughs were filled to capacity and still the rain came even harder. The next phase was the hail and lucky it was not too large but it made a racket on the roof.

This front moving through lasted only twenty minutes but the moisture did wonders to our parched lawns and gardens. It is early in the year to see brown lawns but the heat mixed with windy conditions caused damage to our  trees and ground cover.

We welcome these little waterings from time to time. Yesterday I spent the best part of the mornings making sure our vegetable garden was protected from drought and you can be sure if you water rain will come.

Spring

Nearly every celebration or festival connected to spring flowers or trees has had to make adjustments.  Flowers, trees and shrubs are coming in at least two or three weeks early.A scientist who studies these things says that the wild bees are coming out of their hives 8 days early. Birds ans animals are also nesting and having their young earlier. There must be some concern at the pace global warming and climate change is occurring.

Satellite pictures of the north and south poles shows a drastic change in the ice patterns and yes the oceans are rising, slowly but rising for sure.Here in Florida the weather people keep saying that we are experiencing summer weather in the spring time. Every day records are broken and the Arizona receives 26 inches of snow.Odd and irregular behaviour patterns of weather catches us off guard. Tornado's in march, huge rainfalls in the southern states and so on.It makes for good conversation.

We cannot individually do much about it but our life styles can make a tremendous difference collectively. It is something to think about.

Weather Conditions

With 10 days into January and not a speak of snow there are problems brewing. We had a few cold days but my Swiss chard is still edible and the fish ponds are only partly frozen and the fruit trees are about to bud. We have had years like this before and the confusion caused the weather to ruin the cycle of the fruit trees.  Close examination of the garden soil shows frost only inches down and earthworms and other life is still flourishing in the compost boxes.

I plan to spray the oil and sulfur on my fruit trees this week if we have a warm day. I usually do this much later but it seems like a good plan to get an early start before the trees actually bud. On one of the colder days we experienced a infusion of robins which I guess were heading south. It seemed a little late as most of their food source is gone. Flocks of other birds were also seen mainly slate juncos but they did not stay.

My small fish ponds have had a cover of ice several times and the fish went to the bottom but this week they are free of ice again and the fish are lively. confused and thinking it is spring. With such a late onset of winter we are probably seeing a new pattern of climate change. The ski hill operators as experiencing horrid conditions and their main income time is over as the Xmas break used to be the chief financial start of the season.

We can observe, talk about and predict the weather but in the final analysis we are helpless as mother nature has a mind of her own.

Climate Change

There seems to be more and more evidence of the dynamic effect on our lives and economy from climate change. This month we read and see evidence of flooding all over the world. Closer to home we have severe flooding in Manitoba and New Brunswick as well as a host of other places where the degree and severity do not warrant national news coverage.

The potential for economic ruin in the flooded areas is real and if the act of nature were to occur several years in a row we could be in real trouble. In South East Asia this year up to 40% of the farmland was flooded and there will be no or lesser crop yields of rice in this rice economy.Already there are forecasts of world level difficulties of providing food for millions of people. Europe and its bread basket were hit with similar problems where crops were supposed to be less than half in many areas.

Without belabouring the point we should be doing immediately what we should have been told to do years ago and prepare for the changing climate challenge. With world concerns turned into world action plans we have the resources to cope with the situation. Resources now used to build and buy guns can be used to make butter. I read a book years ago and it talked about the choice of guns or butter and it describes the situation we find ourselves at this time.

I wish to think that our world and national leaders could work together and solve the challenges we have before us.It is a sad commentary on our civilization when leaders waste fortunes on guns and their countrymen are starving. Case in point is North Korea where one of the largest armed forces on the planet exists and thousands are in danger of starvation. All over Africa the same condition exists.

Mother Nature holds the upper hand in this theatre and we must work with her to co-exist on this planet earth.

Climate Change

Much has been written and talked about the effects on our life from climate change.While I was reading the morning paper and half listening to the news on TV I was amazed how the weather was the big news. Every continent was mentioned. The big freeze in the north east USA, the tragic floods in Brazil and Australia, the freeze up in much of China and of course the horrific weather in Europe. We have to be aware of the climate changes over the past few years but particularly this year.

A smaller story about horoscopes showed or reported that the gravitation of the moon changed the alignment of the stars so there will be  changes in your sign. I will no longer be a Capricorn and so on. Although these events probably are unrelated you only have to use your imagination to see startling ramifications if ever there were changes to the solar system and who is to say it could not occur. Science can only observe, report and try to predict the important changes that might come about as a result of events in space.

Sun spots were observed years ago before our communication systems were in place but look at their effect when they are acting up. Everyone talks about the weather but only a few really understand how dependent we are on reporting and using scientific data in our daily lives. This morning I can only say that the sun is shining and it is a perfect day to garden or better still, play golf.

Surveying the Damage

Leaving the airport and beginning our short journey to our home in Florida filled my mind with thoughts of the last devastation caused by frost. The day we left for our three week Xmas at home, Florida was given an Arctic blast of cold air which caused horrific damage to the food producers of the state. All during my stay at home I worried about my little garden and the trees ready to bear fruit. I took all reasonable measures to protect my yard but still I had reservations.

As we pulled up to our home our driver John was helpful in getting our luggage out and moved to the house while I was looking for signs of damage. Minutes after arriving I grabbed my flashlight and made for the back yard and the garden. Immediately I saw the poor banana tree brown and frost bitten followed by the lack of leaves on the orange and grapefruit trees. The vegetable portion of our yard had been spared and the tomatoes, carrots, peppers, beans and cauliflower survived. Although it was 10 pm and dark I felt better but as I looked at the pool my heart sunk as it was a ugly green with gobs of algae on the bottom.

I felt better as the sun came up and I immediately vacuumed the pool and added two gallons of chlorine. Almost like a commercial on TV there became a clearing and by the end of day all was OK. We were spared while others suffered, life was restored to our yard and really the long term damage was minimal. Old Mother Nature has a way of teaching humility and does so in such an even handed way. It rains on the rich and the poor and does not discriminate.

So we are back to our routines after a wonderful three weeks at home with family and friends and begin our connection with our Florida family of friends. We have the best of two worlds and appreciate the gift of being able to manage both. After surveying the damage I wonder why I even gave it a second thought, guess I am too attached to my natural roots. The minister in Pembroke called me a damm pantheist; maybe he was right.

Water Levels

Across Ontario the water levels have tumbled in many regions. The weather change has caused serious shortages because of the lack of snow in the winter and an unusually small rainfall in this spring. Out west in Manitoba the opposite is true as the Red River overflows its banks in light of record breaking rainfalls. The Province of Quebec is burning where uncontrolled fires eat up the boreal forests in unpopulated areas. The cause - low snow fall and rain resulting in low water levels.

These weather changes are to be more common in the future because of many factors. People who study the changes are predicting more severe weather patterns meaning a great impact on our environment. Floods, hurricanes and drought will be the norm and we can expect major disruptions to our lifestyle. Agriculture has already had severe issues with frost causing major damage to the tomato and tender fruit and vegetable crops in the south. Records have been broken in nearly every area and this will continue.

We are so dependent on the weather that we have TV stations broadcasting 24 hours - and their popularity is growing. People watch weather events like hurricanes and floods big time. This is not likely to change as everyone talks about the weather but we can't do anything about it.

Loose Ends

Saturday mornings are market days and as usual Theresa and I went to our local market. We never really needed anything but fresh flowers but we went anyway. The season for Snowbirds is over and you can tell as the numbers were not there today. We wandered through to see our regular vendors and to wish them well.

The bunches of carnations were beautiful and we bought two. This will do until we leave. Fresh corn and cucumbers were our other items and away we went. We looked back to see the place where we had many moments of fun going through the vendors tables when I spyed some large grapefruit. we went back and made our last purchase.

All the vendors said this was the worst year on record but they managed.The Plant City strawberries were selling almost half price as the fields ripened all at once. I share my feelings with Theresa about the resilience of our farmers. Too good a crop and the price drops, to poor a crop and nobody wants to buy as the price is high. Come to think of it, it is probably the best example of the free enterprise system in our capitalistic world.

Arriving home I am faced with a decision about our own produce. I will pick the carrots, beans, cabbage and whatever is left and give it away. Not a bad idea as everyone likes fresh produce. The last three weeks has our city green and lush as we already have been given over 20 inches of rain when the average for the whole winter is less than two.

They are predicting an active hurricane season but I think the east coast should be prepared for a bad summer and fall. Every year I make a prediction on the basis of the water temperature in the Arctic. So far it has been better than the hurricane center who derive their predictions on computer readings and the water temp in the south Pacific. I will never live it down if I am wrong.

Theresa and I are going dancing tonight with friends at the Elks Lodge. A little pre-anniversary get together and a chance to say so long for six months. I always feel at loose ends when we leave our home here or in Ontario. We seem to be in transition as we seek eternal sunshine but we never get bored as a result.

Rain, Rain Pour Down - Chase the Tourists Out of Town

The tourist industry in Florida is second only to agriculture in economic terms. This year we have had the coldest weather on record from Xmas and the tourists are staying away in droves. This week we had two days when the mercury reached 80 and the beaches were crowded and everyone sang, happy days are here again.

On Thursday we heard of a rain storm coming. It is now Friday and we received more rain already than we would have in the first four months of a normal year. Over five inches have fallen so far and we expect that much or more in the next two days.

Baseball camps for the pros are cancelled, golf courses closed, beaches deserted and restaurants and movie theatres full. People from the north who come for a week of fun in the sun are shocked.

Personally I love the rain as it fills our wells, lakes, ponds and wetlands. Our gardens like the rain but not a flood. My pool will be filled to capacity as it has already risen 5 inches. Climate change or a fluke? You be the judge.

This year the hurricane center is predicting an active year with 15 storms, 6 of which will be major and reaching the USA mainland. Mother Nature is expressing unhappiness with our stewardship of mother earth - and she is revolting.