Another cool week was experienced in this area, with June ending relatively cool at 78 degrees. July has started out cool but much warmer temperatures and higher humidity are predicted for the approaching week.

There was substantial rainfall on the 28th of June, and more on July 1st. A trace of rain was recorded on three dates. The approaching week is expected to be drier early and then showers mid-week.

I cut about 11 acres of hay acreage during the week. As I write this, about two and one-half acres has nearly dry hay in the windrows. With the cloudy conditions, a very few raindrops and elevating humidity on Saturday, the 4th, only a few bales were baled. The baler counter read over 4,000 bales at the end of the week.

Each year near graduation time I have heard young crows but the last two years their distinctive call has been later and fewer in number. At least three of the favorite song birds are absent from the premises this year. I heard the first song sparrow recently, but didn’t see it. A few humming birds have visited the flowers.

Near the end of the week when the air was calm, I could hear a loon on Moose Hill Pond. That was the first time this year. On a recently cut four-acre hay field I saw three turkeys feeding at the end of the week. It had been several weeks since I had seen any on the premises.

As I work in the hay fields, I observe more grasshoppers this year but very few bees on the clover blossoms. The cold winter must have reduced the mole population in one of my largest fields as very few soil heaps are noticed. Field mice are rarely noticed. Thus far into the season I have seen two live ones and three dead ones.

With more abundant soil moisture, a new crop of garden weeds have become quite noticeable, with few hours available to eradicate them as harvesting the hay crop has first priority. The pea vines look healthy and the crop is ready for door sales.

New bloom observed recently include: elderberry, hosta, brome grass, blue-bell, chick weed, milk weed, mammoth red clover, wild parsnip, black-eyed Susan, and perennial white clover. That variety of clover grows to a height of four feet and can be seen growing along country roads. It is planted to control erosion and feed honey bees. Many years ago my father planted it for a “green manure” crop to be plowed under.

This period of time last year had much warmer average temperatures. Four high readings were in the 80s, two 90s, and only one in the low 70s. There was a range of 44 degrees, from the low of 48 on the 28th, to the high of 92 degrees on the 2nd.

Rainfall on three dates deposited 2.72 inches of water in the gauge.

June weather summary: Rainfall on 18 dates, total 6.57 inches. 16 readings in the 70’s. Only one reading in the 80’s, an 82 degree reading on the 11th (there were seven readings in the 80’s in May). Three readings in the 30’s, 36 the coolest on the 7th. Thunder on two dates, fog on one date.

Week of June 28-July 4

Day High Low Precip.

Sun. 57 54 1.64

Mon. 71 49 T

Tues. 78 57 T

Wed. 63 60 0.62

Thurs. 73 54 0

Fri. 76 44 0

Sat. 77 46 T

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