Temperatures for the period averaged above normal for the daylight hours and slightly below normal for the darker hours. There was a range of 51 degrees, from the low of 32 on May 3rd, to the high of 83 degrees on the 4th. If the forecast is correct, temperatures for the approaching week will average cooler.

There was no rainfall noticed or recorded for the entire week, very unusual for this time of year. The forecast indicates that this area will experience much needed showers for the first three days of the coming week.

Early in the week, there was a wild turkey feeding beneath the bird feeder; the first turkey seen on the premises in several months. Thus far into the season, I haven’t seen or heard any bob-o-links, tree swallows, blue birds, and killdeer.

New bloom observed recently include: azalea, bluet, trillium, mayflower, hyacinth, dandelion, shepherd’s purse, dogwood, and wild pear.

I spread fertilizer a few hours each day during the week and covered about 60 acres, using about eight tons of commercial fertilizer. There is about two and one-half acres on a commercial neighbors’ field unfertilized because at the end of the week, the west end of it had over two inches of water remaining on it from the spring rains and runoff.

The peas that I planted April 15th came up well and ready to be hoed. Those that I planted in better soil conditions on April 20th didn’t germinate well and less than half emerged. Peas are hardy and seem to defy cold, wet soil conditions if the seeds have a good germination percentage, usually indicated on the package container. My early mixed vegetable garden, planted April 13th, is doing well, except the carrots that haven’t emerged. Perhaps the seeds were old.

My helper spent several hours during the week repairing the fencing on about five acres of pasture. The neighbor that had beef cattle confined in my barn for over five months turned the cattle out during the forenoon of the 9th, compared to the 18th last year.

Turning the time on history back to May 9th, 1945, snow started near the supper hour, and continued for several hours into the 10th. That heavy snow accumulated to over one foot and broke several thousand utility poles in the upper, northeast area. Many poles were cedar during that period, with less strength and probably decayed. We were without telephone and electric service for an extended time.

Apple trees were blooming on the 12th, with snow on the ground. Leaves on most trees were full-sized and many succumbed to the weight of the snow, doing damage comparable to the ice storm of 1998.

This period of time last year had cooler average temperatures. There was a range of 40 degrees, from the low of 29 on the 8th, to the high of 69 degrees on the same date.

Rainfall on four dates deposited 0.32 of an inch of water in the gauge.

Week of May 3-9

Day High Low Precip.

Sun. 73 32 0

Mon. 83 35 0

Tues. 71 39 0

Wed. 73 34 0

Thurs. 81 38 0

Fri. 64 42 0

Sat. 73 42 0