This eight-day period had temperatures usually associated with mid-summer but the approaching week will probably have much cooler temperature readings.

Showers early in the week deposited a meager 0.21 of an inch of water in the gauge, with much more in the forecast. Soil conditions at the end of the week and the end of May were the driest of many years. As of 10 p.m. on the 30th, this area had received only 1.03 inches of water for the month. Rain started before daylight on the 31st, with 0.35 of an inch near 7 a.m., 0.50 of an inch by 10 a.m. and 0.79 at 9 p.m.

The extended dry period caused browning spots on my lawn and the hay crop appears to be shorter than normal. Perhaps with additional rain and moderate temperatures the hay crop could improve.

During the week I was able to get the pumpkins and squash planted, using over 1,200 seeds, which were more costly this year. I shouldn’t have to replant as many this year because my helper cut out several wire squares to place over each hill on three of the six growing areas. The unprotected areas I will scatter whole kernel corn to distract the crows and mourning doves from digging out the seeds. This effort works quite well if I remember to scatter the corn daily, even after the plants start growing.

Pumpkins that I planted on the 23rd germinated quickly and were up in the afternoon of the 30th. Rarely is the soil temperature warm enough in late May for a quick emerging of the seeds into plants.

The sweet potato slips that I ordered earlier arrived in excellent condition by mail near mid-week. I raked the soil into ridges, resembling raised beds and replanted them. As of this writing, I have three large ones left from last year’s crop; the only ground vegetable left, all others have been used.

During the week I heard and saw the mockingbird and heard the bob-o-links, a late arrival for both. A king bird was perched on the utility wire recently. They, too, are few in number. I heard a cricket in the East Livermore area early in the week and on the premises near the end of the week. Summer-like heat seemed to advance many things.

New bloom observed recently: bridal wreath, jack-in-the pulpit, beach rose, butter cup, yellow perennial pea, white and pink rhododendron, honeysuckle, choke cherry, honey locust, and rhubarb.

This period of time last year had temperatures that averaged much cooler. There was a range of 40 degrees, from the low of 32 on the 29th, to the high of 72 degrees on the 26th and 30th.

There was rainfall on six of the eight-day period and it totalled 2.06 inches, bringing the month’s total to 5.09 inches, much above the May of 2015.

May weather summary: Precipitation on 11 dates, total as of 9 p.m. on May 31 1.82 inches. Seven readings in the 80’s, warmest 88 on the 27th, 10 readings in the 30’s, coldest 30 degrees on the 14th, fog on two dates, thunder on two dates, damaging wind on the 28th.

Week of May 24-31

Day High Low Precip.

Sun. 77 32 0

Mon. 79 47 0.12

Tues. 86 52 0

Wed. 88 57 0.05

Thurs. 85 61 0.04 damaging winds 1 p.m.

Fri. 79 58 0

Sat. 84 58 0

Sun. 67 7 a.m. 48 4 p.m. 0.79 9 p.m.

Copy the Story Link