Weather ... And More Weather!
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- Marge_Talt
- JaneHollis
- Marge_Talt
- Gay_Klok
- JaneHollis
- JaneHollis
- Gay_Klok
- Marge_Talt
- Marge_Talt
- skydoc
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» Marge_Talt - storms
Jane,I do hope you've seen the last of the hideous weather. Spent some time on the London Times web site the other night trying to find out just what had happened because our TV news reports were all too brief. Your article confirms what I read there.
I was in England in 1989...just after that horrible storm that did so much damage, and was appalled by what I saw...so when I heard another bout of storms had hit, I was very concerned. It seems that there is more damage from water and flooding this time than from wind? I did not read of whole forests being flattened as they were in the 1988 storm. Is this right?
I realize that there was more than enough wind damage - but it appears to have been more localized than before when so many ancient forests were felled in one big swath.
Glad to find that your house and garden escaped major catastrophe - my heart goes out to those who did not.
-- posted by Marge_Talt
» JaneHollis - Re: storms
In response to message posted by Marge_Talt:Hi Marge
Yes - you are right. Whilst there have been some wind damage - individual trees blown down, roofs blown off, there has not been the widespread devastation that resulted from the 1989 storm. Some huge trees have come down - for example an enormous oak nearby was felled - but the majority of trees are OK. However, I did hear that an ancient oak at Longleat came down and ruined the maze - apparently it was the longest hedge maze in the country.
For most people though it is the flooding that has caused the major problems. The worst thing is there may still be more coming - apparently Sunday is going to be very bad, although this time it sounds if the north of the country is going to take the brunt.
Apparently, we are likely to see more and more of this wet weather due to global warming. Bad news for many people living new homes that were inadvisadbly built on flood plains. Many are now fearing that they won't be able to insure their homes in future and that their value will be greatly reduced.
There was an interesting article, though, in the national papers about how one man has solved his flooding problems. He bought a house on the Somerset levels which he knew was prone to flooding at least once a year. It was so bad that he and his wife used to live upstairs and keep a boat moored in the living room. However, he got a friend with a JCB to excavate some clay and build an embankment round the borders of his property. Even during this extreme flooding his house and garden are now safe from the encircling waters!
-- posted by JaneHollis
» Marge_Talt - Re: storms
In response to message posted by JaneHollis:Hi Jane,
I'm very glad to hear that it hasn't been as devastating as 1989. But it is really too bad about the Longleat oak and maze..
I hope the additional storms that were supposed to happen yesterday did not. I have not heard anything this side of the pond.
I did read in the Times that the global warming is expected to have an adverse affect on weather in the UK. I'm sure it will globally, but UK being an island and depending on the gulf stream seems likely to be more affected than the central parts of large continents. I wish the US would quit blathering about and pandering to special interest groups and make an effort to curtail emissions here...but...guess we have to wait for another dustbowl in the far west or something cataclysmic to move our government off dead center.
I can understand that those in low lying areas would be most concerned.
The story about the Somerset man and his dike is a hoot...talk about determination!
-- posted by Marge_Talt
» Gay_Klok - Re: Re: storms
In response to message posted by Marge_Talt:There was an article in the papers here the other day stating that the scientists have reported the Hole in the Ozone is increasing at an alarming rate over our pole [Tasmania is very close to the S Pole] and will be, this year, larger than the land mass of America
The same article stated that the hole in the ozone at the N Pole is rapidly catching up
I am glad that you did not suffer greatly in your house and garden, Jane
After a record dry Summer, Autumn and Winter, we are now having record rain falls [including our first Open Day weekend early October and I hope it will be kinder on Nov 18th, 19th] but today and yesterday is perfect
Wind storms are horrible at first but I did read in the RHS journal that many new vistas were created in the famous gardens in the big storm in the eighties and after clearing up the mess, grieving the loss of ancient tree, it was quite exciting to have new areas to create new gardens. Not much solace for the small gardens who may lose their only mature plantings!.
-- posted by Gay_Klok
» JaneHollis - Re: Re: storms
In response to message posted by Marge_Talt:Well, Marge, we didn't have any more storms in terms of high winds, but we have had two more days of heavy rain which has caused flooding yet again in vulnerable areas. Today and tomorrow are meant to be a bit drier, then more rain is forecast. I have never ever experienced weather like this before!
-- posted by JaneHollis
» JaneHollis - Re: Re: Re: storms
In response to message posted by Gay_Klok:Interesting to discover that you are having similar weather conditions in Tasmania, Gay. Sorry it happened on your first Open Day - hope the weather improves for you.
Although my garden hasn't suffered much damage, I feel really frustrated as there hasn't been enough dryish weather for me to get out in the garden and do all those autumn jobs. There are so many plants to divide and move, as well as weeds to attack. And the lawn hasn't been mowed for weeks!
-- posted by JaneHollis
» Gay_Klok - Re: Re: Re: Re: storms
In response to message posted by JaneHollis:The two days of Open Garden, it poured non-stop, a gale blew and finally we had hale stones and sleet on the Sunday! It's got to be better this time :=]
Our problem is to get the grass cut too - in an 8 acre garden, there is quite a lot of grass. Really takes 2 days at least and we get a local chap up before Open Day to do the mowing. And, if it get too long, it will be turning yellow and slippery. The worry is almost not worth opening the garden :-] - and, we are getting too old to continue the weeding as we used to do, rain or not and the weeds grow like there is no tomorrow at this time of the year. Moan! Moan!
-- posted by Gay_Klok
» Marge_Talt - Re: Re: Re: storms
In response to message posted by JaneHollis:Oh, Jane, sorry to hear this, but at least it did not include high winds, so guess that is some little blessing.
Too bad you can't just send some of that rain my way - my garden is bone dry; no rain for the past 6 weeks or more after a summer that presented the same problems you're facing...too wet to get out and do the necessary!
I do hope it dries out for you!!!
-- posted by Marge_Talt
» Marge_Talt - Re: storms
In response to message posted by Gay_Klok:Gay, you get to moan with weather like that before an Open Day! Ack! I'd be totally hysterical...hope weather settles for you soon!
-- posted by Marge_Talt
» skydoc - British horticultural zones
Dear Jane,I am a transplant from the States, primarily a vegetable gardener, and am fairly confused by directions to plant in month ___ in English books and on seed packets. Since I just arrived I am also looking for some support to ignore many of the directions to wait until spring to plant. Your description of your garden being approximately zone 8 gave me hope. I am in Southwest England- Andover, Hampshire- and wondering what zone I should consider myself in and if there are other considerations of the differences between here and the states which I must keep in mind. Perhaps I also am in zone 8 but should view that as a bottom freezing threshold and note that the heat days here will be much lower than the last few zone 8 gardens I had in the States? Any advice or sources for information would be greatly appreciated.
Sincerely, Jennifer
-- posted by skydoc
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