Texas Spring/Summer Thread

[Bird]

The NWS had forecast a low of 74 for us this morning. It got down to 83. I saw a Dallas weatherman on TV mentioning 106 yesterday being the first time it's gotten that hot this early in the year since 1980. Dallas folks who were around back then may recall 1980 as the hottest summer ever in Dallas.

And my wife asked me last night if I'd noticed all the grasshoppers in our yard. I saw my first one 5 days ago, so I guess they've now arrived in force.

I've been mowing every 4 to 5 days, but after today I expect once a week will be plenty.

 

[Western]

Bird, I remember 1980!! That was awe-full. My 1st car, a 1973 t-bird, had no A/C. By the time I flipped enough burgers and stacked enough grocerys to pay for a new compressor it was winter and I didn't need A/C:laughing:

BR, I have just recently have seen the large Grass hoppers in any numbers, I have been seening quite a few of the small "green" ones for a month now, but mostly in the damp areas of my lawn. I have seen the obliterate a good coastal field in 2-3 days, almost before you knew you had a problem and could react.

 

[jinman]

We have seen some grasshoppers in our garden, but nothing like AlanL has northeast of McKinney, Tx. I'd rate our population as normal. However, our temperatures sure aren't normal. I worked outside on my tractor with canopy until about noon yesterday. We had a slight breeze from the north and I thought that would keep us cool, but this high pressure ridge extends all the way up to Montana, so the north breeze is no cooler than the normal southern breeze. Yesterday afternoon, we had all our lawn watering done and decided to treat ourselves to a movie in our basement home theater. It sure was nice to kick back and watch that movie in cool comfort while seeing our outside thermometer going up to 108.4 F. That thermometer transmitter is in the shade on the north side of our house, so I'm sure it is very accurate. Hang in there, Mr. Air Conditioner. Don't fail me now!

 

[Bird]

In spite of heavy watering day before yesterday and finishing yesterday morning, I was sure stirring up the dust this morning. You'd have thought there hadn't been any water on the yard in a month. But the grass isn't as thick and tall as it's been the other times I've mowed this year, so just an hour and a quarter with the string trimmer, then about 45 minutes with the ZTR and done in 2 hours. Of course I started about 10 minutes before 7 a.m., so it wasn't bad at all.

 

[Western]

In spite of heavy watering day before yesterday and finishing yesterday morning, I was sure stirring up the dust this morning. You'd have thought there hadn't been any water on the yard in a month. But the grass isn't as thick and tall as it's been the other times I've mowed this year, so just an hour and a quarter with the string trimmer, then about 45 minutes with the ZTR and done in 2 hours. Of course I started about 10 minutes before 7 a.m., so it wasn't bad at all.

I kept watching for you to pull up with your equipment to do my lawn:laughing: You never showed so I had to go get some mulch for a couple trees. I think I'll wait for the "cool front" Friday or Saturday to mow mine. Supposed to only get to 99*

 

[jinman]

think I'll wait for the "cool front" Friday or Saturday to mow mine. Supposed to only get to 99*

99 F. . . Woohoo! Put up the Ice On Bridge signs.

 

[Western]

99 F. . . Woohoo! Put up the Ice On Bridge signs.

No kidding!!Ironically when I was in West Texas, I did notice that DOT or whomeve,r had not closed the "Icy bridge" warning signs. Oh Well, I have to go out today and put out around 3000# of asphalt patch, so it will probably feel 199*

 

[Bird]

No kidding!!Ironically when I was in West Texas, I did notice that DOT or whomeve,r had not closed the "Icy bridge" warning signs. Oh Well, I have to go out today and put out around 3000# of asphalt patch, so it will probably feel 199*

I don't think they close those signs anywhere in the state anymore; don't know about other states. If I remember right, someone years ago tried to sue the state for not having the sign opened when they hit ice on a bridge, and of course, DOT can't always get out soon enough and with enough people to open all the signs when there might be ice, so they just leave them open all the time.

I guess that's kind of like a sign I saw at the end of a bridge in Arizona that said "No Fishing From Bridge" and I didn't see any sign that there'd ever been any water under that bridge.:laughing:

 

[jinman]

Yeah, Bird. The "Bridges may ice in cold weather" signs have always amused me since they replaced the folding "Ice on bridge" signs with them. How long before we have to have signs that say, "Ice patches may be slick," or something similar? How about "The fool in front of you may slam on his brakes when he gets to the far side of the icy bridge." Now, that would be helpful.:laughing::laughing:

 

[pacerron]

We just hit 101 degrees. Everything is turning brown.
We had to call out the "Jinman Water Head" just to keep the garden alive.
The black sunflower seeds from the bird seed bag are starting to form blooms.