Possible cold weather

Rain is here.  The next few days will bring a decent shot 

of precip.  Freezing precip will challenge patrons along the 

gorge and lower Columbia basin.

 By Friday, the precip will clear away as colder air from the 

north works its way south. Dew points may tease out some 

fog, but it looks fairly DRY and quite chilly - over the weekend 

on into early the week of Feb 3. ICY roads, etc will be in play, 

should a sky clear be near you.

 Concern: Some model runs suggest COLD modified Arctic 

air will drop down over the PNW, or at least move close enough 

to clip the region with the coldest outbreak since the early 

December event.

Expect rain, mountain snow before a chilly weekend around 

the PNW. The following week will turn either quite cold, SNOWY 

at nearly all elevations, with a modified Arctic event possible, or

 it will be rainy  before turning chilly and dry.

 http://www.ovs.com/weather_cafe.htm

Beautiful weather

Nice weather with highs in the 50's but lows
in the low 30's.

Morning ice on the windshields so still very
cold in the AM's.

Garlic has made it thru the December freezing
weather with little damage so far.

Weed raised beds and add 4-6 inches of mulch
in prep for the gardening season.

 Check the OSU Lane County Extension - gardening
web site for gardening classes and activities.

Winter damage

More lawn damage, called yellow spot or snow
mold - which the lawn stinks due to rotting grass.

Hazelnut catkins - winter freeze damage.

Azalea blooms falling - a lot due to the freeze.

Pruning of tree fruits and berries continues. 

What now

If you have driven over the passes, we really
NEED more snow.  'Which means more rain, at
least in the hills.  We are way down on winter
rain, over 25 inches.

Be awarew that madoren trees all along I5 from
Eugene to Grants Pass have been hammered with
three things:  1- the common madrone leaf spot - spots
all over the leaves;  2- severe summer drought - brown
leaf edges;  and 3- the December freeze - leaves
 look burned.

The next ten days - highs of 41-55 and lows of 32-36
degrees, with some clouds and some sunny weather.

Mid January

The next 10 days look like pretty cold weather. 
With a low around 32-34 and high of 54-56.

Finding more damaged plant material.  Hazelnut
catkins are showing freeze burn on the outside of
 the catkin.  The hazelnut leaf buds or flowers,
no freeze damage showing yet.

Between now and March I will be checking
grapes, apples, and raspberries by cutting open their 
flower buds.

December freeze

The December freeze during the first two
weeks in December is now showing itself
on various plant materials.

Mainly:  boxwoods - yellowing;  garlic - withered
ends;  blueberries - quite a bit of frozen and miss
 shapened on one year tips;  a lot of bushes (3x3)
showing brown - burned leaves.  These burned leaves
and new leaf buds will be showing burn effects for the
next 6 months.  As buds develop, we will take a look at
 the new buds.

Still expecting damage to any thing in pots;  roses;
 blueberries and bulbs.

Rainy weather

As the weather continues to be moist - wet,
it may be time to add 6 inches of mulch to raised
beds.  Also, covering over the mulch and/or soil,
will let you start gardening up to a month early
 than if the soil is NOT covered.

Mulch will help to keep the soil from becoming
compacted from heavy rains.