Spring weather

This -- THIS -- is why north Idaho gardeners have a hard time getting their vegetables to grow.

June 6 and the temperature is 36F, pouring rain, and howling wind. Not exactly conducive to good growing conditions.

We have a fire in the wood stove because this morning the temperature in the house was 56F.

However despite the charming spring weather, the potatoes (which, not incidentally, like cool weather) are thriving.

After two weeks in the ground, the peas are juuuust starting to emerge. (Blurry photo, sorry.)

Best of all -- and despite the weather -- the wheat is sprouting! If we look carefully, we can see a faint green fuzz on the field.

Now let's hope the wheat field doesn't drown.



Just to show how fickle spring weather can be around these parts, Monday was warm (75F) and humid, so much so that we ventured our first trip to the (deserted) lake for the season.

Younger Daughter found an eerie-looking outstretched skeleton of a bird under the water, probably a seagull.

Younger Daughter bravely ventured into the chilly water. Older Daughter declined.

We didn't linger long, however, as the clouds were becoming more threatening. In fact we got home just before a massive storm cell came through with veritable sheets of rain, thunder and lightning, and howling wind. According to the weather report, conditions were even ripe for tornadoes, something almost unheard of in these parts. Hard to believe we were splashing in the water minutes before.

My garden isn't nearly as planted as I would like it to be. In this I can truthfully blame the weather.