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Friday, June 29, 2012

How Dry Is It?

How dry is it in northern Illinois?



Pretty darn dry.  Last week I heard that we are six inches below average in precipitation this year.  Pair that with above average temperatures, and you have some crispy conditions.  This is the worst I've seen it in the eighteen years we've lived in this house.  While I am doing my best to keep my perennials alive and have deeply watered some of the younger trees, there are parts of the yard we have just let go.  The grass is mostly brown and dormant, except in the shadiest spots.  The ostrich ferns along the west side of the house (pretty much constantly shaded) are brittle and crumbly.

Sad, dying ferns

Even some of the weeds in the lawn are curling up and drying out.  When your weeds start to suffer, you know it's a drought!

Curling, wilting plantains.  Not sorry to see them go!

We need rain, and we need it now.  If I thought it would help, I'd do a little rain dance.  As it is, I'll just keep hoping.

UPDATE:  A squall moved through the area and gave us about twenty minutes' rain.  Whoo hoo!  Just the threat of my rain dance was enough!

31 comments:

  1. oh gosh, we've had the complete opposite!! We had the wettest June on record and even now it's pretty miserable.

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  2. How sad to see the plants drooping. You need some rain fast, so we can see sweet pozy dreams. Thanks for visiting and leaving you kind comments.

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  3. That's pretty dry! We finally got rain a couple of days. You should have seen my day lilies. Blooms were curling and everything, but it was just too hot to care at some point. Finally some storm came through and we got a little rain. Still need more. Keep praying and maybe you can do your rain dance just for laughs. :-)

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  4. So dry here as well. The yards have all dried up. We decided to relandscape this year. Our flower beds are empty as we can't plant now. We have a well so we have to be careful. I didn't plant much this year and I am glad. Just keeping the little I have alive will be a challenge. It all works out eventually. Usually this is in August and it is Still June. Good luck. Hopefully a little rain soon.

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  5. You can have some of our rain, we are sick of it here

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  6. And u can have some of the Miami humidity too...:) Have a lovely weekend darling! xoxo

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  7. Goodness, are you sure you don't live in Texas like me???!! I hope you do get some rain soon!

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  8. Hopefully things will turn around soon! It is dry up here in WI, but it's not quite as bad as it is down there.

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  9. Terrible here in West Ky too! We are out there every evening watering the little garden and our plants....most of the yard is dead (JML is happy about that because he doesn't have to mow) I wish we could have a full weekend of rain rain rain!

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  10. It hasn't stopped raining here in the north of Germany... it feels like september already! no sun and lots of rain

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  11. There's you with no rain and we're having one of the wettest summers ever over here!! I went out to water my hanging baskets this morning and then realised they were still soaking from all the rain we had overnight! Oh well at least everything looks nice and lush and green - just no chance of a having a barbeque! Maggie xx

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  12. We definitely need a rain dance too. It is 102 again today and what was so lush and green just a few short weeks ago has all turned brown. I am glad that my garden area is small and mostly shaded so we can keep it watered and alive.
    Hugs,
    Laura

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  13. AZ also needs rain. We have the same probably on top of that 113 degrees all week long. blah... the humidity and dry heat is just killing all plants. I hope we all get rain soon =)

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  14. I'm so glad you've had some rain Posy because that looks serious. I didn't realise you had been without rain in your part of the world. As for us, for nearly two years we've been drowning in it. I'd love to swap with you! xx

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  15. So sad! Our grass is brown and crunchy. Our garden is gone already because of the drought. Even the pines here are dried and brown. We are going to have to start doing some rain dances I think? Stay safe and out of this heat.

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  16. love it!!

    xx

    www.aroundlucia.com
    www.aroundlucia.com

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  17. Wow, it is really dry. We had a terrible thunder storm yesterday, so we are evry well hydrated, so to say. Hoping rain comes your way soon!

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  18. I'm so sorry to hear about your drought. It can be a very miserable time. We lived through 3 years of drought in Texas. Even my wind chimes fell apart from the heat blasts they received day in and day out. I will try to push some of our rain your way.

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  19. We are having a dry spot. I worry about all the fireworks the next few days.

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  20. We're right there with ya! It's been in the 100s here too. Our grass is a lovely shade of brown and you get a crunchy sound when ever you walk on it. We did get a good fake out yesterday though. It got all cloudy and grey but that was it, no rain! Next couple of days, we have a 20% chance but doubt that will be enough to get us some. The weather sure has changed the past few years, we go from winter straight into 90 degree heat with maybe 1 week of spring if we're lucky! Maybe if you dance long enough, we'll all get some rain!!
    Rebecca

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  21. Love it !! Wanna follow each other ?

    Check out my new post...
    ❤ StylishByNature.com

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  22. Oh my goodness - that's worse than what I have here in Michigan. Glad you got a little squall though - hopefully more will be on the way.

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  23. Thanks for the threat of the rain dance. It definitely helped around here. But you are right - this is some crazy, hot and dry weather. Thanks for sharing, liz

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  24. So funny! My daughter lives in southern Illinois. She was joking around and actually did a rain dance a few days ago. When the storm came through their way, tore off a neighbor's front porch and destroyed two of their cars her son said it was her fault.
    That's why I laughed all the way through your post.

    I am a new follower, Ginger

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  25. Sending thoughts of rain your way...It's been pretty dry here too..and HOT! We did just have a quick shower and thunderstorm pass thru a few minutes ago though.
    Happy 4th!
    -Shelley

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  26. We have the same problem here... We're VERY dry... We're watering our flowers --but the grass is BROWN and crunchy... However, like you, we had a tiny rain on Monday night... That's not nearly enough --but we'll take anything we can get... Let's all keep on doing the rain dance.
    Hugs,
    Betsy

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  27. If only I could share you the rain we've been having too much here in Bangkok...

    ANDWHATELSEISTHERE | SHOP

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  28. Yes, our ponds around us are drying up---evaporation!! Here is hoping for rain...which I think is in our forecast.

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  29. This heat wave is devastating! I am so sorry about all of your
    plants dying. It breaks my heart to know this is happening to you
    and others.

    xxoo

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  30. The picture of you ferns is so sad. I hope the roots are still alive and that they will come back in all their glory.

    It is really hot here too (117) and I have also lost some plants.

    xoxo Bunny Jean

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