0600 here and 15.0ºC precisely, under high cloud. It appears that the predicted rain of last night (according to the radar) didn't materialize. Now the direction of the weather in the entire province has reversed and rain is due to arrive in about 6 hours, sometime around noon. It might be noted that the driving distance from Hope to Prince George is somewhat over 600 kms in more or less a straight line, making our distances here gargantuan in comparison to those in England. Prince George is a little more than half way between the US border and the Yukon border.
I do find it quite hard to visualise the distances you have to travel in Canada Keith. But everyone there seems to take it with a pinch of salt to travel hundreds of miles in a day. I suppose it's what your used to.
Even just a trip to the coast from here, where some of our kids live, is more than a 900 km round trip. And often, we make that in a single day.
Here in Belgium the weather this year is absolutely horrendous. We've had one week of 20° C + in Feb, and after that is was just three horrible months of March, April and May. Especially April, it was the coldest April since I was born 33 years ago. It looks like it might improve at the end of this week... On the other hand, the weather was quite good for my new trees that needed to get established. Last year March and April where super super dry, so its not all bad.
It seems we all got hit this Spring K. So many new dead shoots. But June will see the new buds swelling, 'I hope'. D
Lots of leaf burn now on some of the more susceptible plants. Some don’t suffer at all, others really do need protection from the horrendous winds of late. What a pity when the pristine foliage is damaged. I also have a few that always take a hit from frost, Wilson’s pink dwarf , Momoiro koya San, Asahi Zuru, and Beni Zuru always succumb to frost.
That might have been the case until a few years ago when I had that little tumble. Not so much these days, but hey, that's just part of life.
The same here J, I have four that are going to really struggle this year. Kasagiyama, Kamagata, Baby ghost and Shishio Improved. Not sure if they will make it tbh. Baby ghost is a weak tree IMO , so not sure if I will replace it. As I type this, we are having an horrendous hail storm. What next is going to be thrown at our trees.
Fine mist throughout the day yesterday allowed water drops to collect heavily, even on leaves drooping down vertically. Back to real rain today.
My Kamagata and Chishio are also badly frost damaged. I have Chishio labelled with the spelling as I’ve typed, oh no, not another synonym. Mine came from Mallet Court nursery many years ago. Yet my Kasagiyama is a beast and completely untouched, but it’s a fair size now. We need our Silver birches to reach for the sky’s and help with protection.
Fortunately we brought an umbrella and found some shelter. After 10 minutes it was all clear again. It has something magical being outside in a big thunderstorm, feeling and seeing the force of nature.
This one looks gorgeous, can I ask which cultivar this one is? I’ve edited this post as I’ve seen the answer has been posted. It’s gorgeous and on my wanted list.
I agree M, we love to sit and watch a storm from the comfort of our conservatory. Not as brave as you. Glad you got home safely though, as you never know with storms!!
I am shocked! I've lived with A. circinatum all my life and never seen such beautiful leaf colours. Maybe it likes Oregon better than coastal BC.
Actually, although was not sold as a cultivar is quite different than the couple dozen regular circinatum in the neighborhood. Here is a look back when I purchased last fall. Cheering ourselves up with Maples
We had the hail too earlier this evening. Luckily I had just finished repotting my third tree of the afternoon when it started so decided to call it a day. Still raining now but nipped out to take a quick pic of the 'Murasaki kiyohime' I repotted today; looking very weighed down by the wet stuff so you can't even see the pot!
The previously forecast rain did not arrive until an hour or so ago. However, checking the radar tells me that it is likely to be here until well after daylight today. The high is only to be 18ºC, under showery conditions. Just before 1:30 a.m.here as I type.
I’m looking for volunteers to help with a project to build a new “Ark” to preserve our Maple collections. At least if it’s just rain and not winds, it’s not an issue. They perhaps look their best in sunshine whilst the foliage is wet.
