It happens every year, not always in the same month or in the
same manner. Mother Nature makes her own decisions on what
we can expect.
Last
year in our area, she caused our fruit trees — especially
apple and cherry, to blossom early. The beauty of flowering
orchards is beyond describing. Than Mother Nature’s
cruel side emerged; she sent snow and freezing temperatures
which
caused the trees to shed their blooms. The majority of our
fruit trees did not recover and produce last year.
I watched a group of apple trees last year that the year before
had been so heavily laden a small herd of deer feasted on them
for months. Those same trees produced one apple that actually
ripened to bright red so at least one whitetail enjoyed a snack.
Mother Nature was not satisfied with ruining the fruit crop,
she went on to provide an extremely dry season that caused
a serious drought in many areas of the country. The dryness
had many ill effects, not only on crops but on fresh water
levels of the Great Lakes and down to the smallest ponds.
As
the water supply diminished, further problems developed.
Limits on commercial shipping, recreational boating and
drinking water shortages from dry wells were only a
few of the impacts
felt. At this time last year, some of the damage from
drought conditions had occurred. This year, with nature’s
new plan for us; farm fields are so wet many cannot
be prepared
to plant. Farmers are falling behind on their early
planting and some are considering changing to other
crops this
year.
As
we enter the month of “May flowers,” many
northern areas are still receiving sleet, snow, too
much rain and high
winds. Small rivers are over their banks causing
closures and weight restrictions had to be imposed on secondary
and country
roads. If these conditions would have continued,
the
effects of weight limits could have presented even
more problems
for farming and construction.
The
winter’s toll on highways are evident and
wet weather and cold temperature were holding back
opportunities
to make
needed repairs. In addition, there were many concerns
regarding bridges on county roads. They could not
be inspected until
rivers recede and banks begin to dry. In some areas,
roads adjacent to rivers were washing out entirely.
As
the spring weather is slow showing us what we should expect;
forecasts for the lake levels are
not favorable.
One report
I read said we can only expect about an inch
increase in depth as a result of all the rain. As I see
it, that leaves
a long
way to go but at least (hopefully) it’s
headed in the right direction.
We need to remember, we have found no way to control Mother
Nature so all we can do is duck and dodge and make the best
of what she sends us.