About A Drought
Posted at 5:15 AM on June 5, 2009
by Dale Connelly
(26 Comments)
It's dry.
How dry is it? There's a National Drought Mitigation Center that develops nifty maps which show the dry spots on a statewide, regional and national basis.
But identifying the moment when a dry spell becomes a "drought" is more personal and subjective.
The formal declaration varies from place to place because different locations historically expect differing amounts of water.
And of course different people see things selfishly.
Did I say "selfishly"? I meant "differently". Oops.
Here's a little rhyme to sum it up:
If there's one thing we needn't doubt,
it's when to call a drought 'a drought'.The standard measures tell us why
It's drought, and not 'a little dry'.'A little dry' is what you've got
when farmers say 'The field's too hot.'Or forest rangers, dripping sweat
Suggest the trees 'could use some wet'.'A little dry' is the annoyance
buoys feel, not needing buoyanceAnd 'dry' is when a mink will slip
Into a your birdbath for a sip.But if you hear 'It isn't raining!'
That's not drought. It's just complaining.For drought is quite another deal.
A drought's a crisis, stark and realYou know for sure a drought is on
When I've got brown spots on my lawn.
So ... I've definitely got a drought at my house. How about you?
Comments (26)
Thanks for the cool maps, Dale. It's nice to have my personal opinion validated. I'm been amazed at the number of times that storms heading right at us here in the TC have missed us! And all those pretty flowers that we all talked up here on the blog - they do need watering. Not holding my breath for 60% chance of rain.
Good Morning!
My calendar is broken; it says June but my lawn says August. The garden is happy with the little oasis we are providing along with all the sun. Unless you are a bug or a plant, this is a fantastic spring so for me, it's working pretty well.
Have a great weekend everyone!
I see from the link to the map on dought conditions that the part of the state where I live is just abnormally dry. We don't have any brown lawns, so I guess we are in the dry but not dought condition.
A farmer told me he is worried about his pea field which he says is suffering from lack of mosture. I suppose peas might be one of first to show signs of drought. However, I was told that many farmers believe that their crops have suffered from several disasters in most years and still get good harvests.
Is everyone sleeping in this morning? Where are the chatterers?
I know it a drought because I need as much lotion as in deepest winter!
Seems there's no need to move to drier areas for your health, just stay here. I can't really complain about 70 degrees, Sunny, a cooling breeze now and then, lovely sleeping temps, and NO FRIZZ!
My subjective answer to when this dry spell becomes (became?) "a drought" starts when others begin issuing warnings to make sure the trees and ornamentals in my yard are given deep drinks of much needed water (forget the grass) and escalates when the local PUC announces watering restrictions (which they haven't yet). But, I'm encouraged by the relatively cooler weather that keeps things from totally burning up, and I like Mark's image of a "little oasis" his garden enjoys.
Looking forward to the chance of rain this weekend. Maybe one will bless Sherrilee this time. We can all hope.
What lawn? ;-) Yes, my lawn is that bad.
If not water, perhaps it could rain "Pennies from Heaven". There are so many choices of artists who have recorded the song! Billie Holiday, Dean Martin, Big Joe Turner... the list goes on.
we're in the "abnormally dry" section (with lots of people) but it feels like a drought.
it's so dry that the goats are eating the plants closer to the pond - where there is still moisture in the soil -
it's so dry that the clothes are dry before we can get them hung on the line
it's so dry i've had seeds in the soil for two weeks that haven't had courage to emerge yet.
and, it's so dry that (what is the Stan Rogers thing, Dale?) i have to blow dustballs from my nose after being out in the garden. can't remember the exact line......
it's so dry that the Dodger and Alba are giving us dried milk
we're waiting for a good, soaking rain - and for "Mount Dream" to erupt
good morning All
The panhandle of Florida is drenched. I wish we could send some rain to the Heartland but not along with the Hurricane season.
Nancy Griffith sings a great song about the Dust Bowl Days call "Trouble in the Fields". The song lends an air of hope.
Barb in Blackhoof - funny funny with the "it's so dry..." Exepecially the dry milk. ;> Hope Mount Dream erupts soon (having been a human mom whose kid came over a week late, Dream has my greatest sympathies).
At our house, it's so dry, when I water the plants - especially the seedlings and recently transplanted greenery that I'd really like to survive - within hours the soil looks like it hasn't seen moisture in weeks.
Five-year-old Daughter is loving the lack of rain (more time for her to play outside in the sunshine) - but I hate to think what our water bill will look like.
I must be on the fringe of the "dry" zone...I still have lawn growing too fast and have to mow again, the usual "bell wether" sections of the lawn that dry up first are still green. The cool/cold wind off Lake Superior is keeping the tulips still blooming, the apple blossoms still with petals...and frost providing the early morning moisture. Ah, to live near Gitchi Gummi.
Thanks for Charlie Parr. I first heard of him when he was playing at the Mahtowa bar, which he still does from time to time. The first weekend of August is the Highway 61 Folk festival and songwriting contest in Mahtowa. Put it on your calendars everyone...meet you there!
Happy weekend time! Have a good one, RHers.
...just got to thinking about the Eurythmics song from back in the 80s with the phrase "Here comes the rain again - falling in my head like a memory" (or something like that). I think right now that's what rain is around these parts - a memory.
It's so dry I pop open 3 beers in the morning instead of 2.
You started it Barb!
A couple ideas for music - that song by Doris Day where what will be will be. Face it, the weather's out of our control unless Joanne from Big Lake is a proven rain dancer, and the one Jim Ed referred to as a "very sad song" - the polka with no beer in heaven.
Yup, St. Croix County, Wisconsin is in "extreme drought" conditions. I've got the sprinkler going on my veggies right now, and all my flowers are dry as well. Friends and I are going to the Landscape Arboretum later this morning, so will see how they are dealing with the rain shortage.
Everyone have a good weekend! Do the rain dance.
oh Donna - very funny and such a good idea! :-)
do you have one of those hats with the beer holders and the lines running down to your mouth?
thanks for the chuckle
Greetings Heartlanders! It's been such lovely weather, I haven't wanted to think about it being too dry (as in drought). Our crappy lawn is dry and has bare patches due to very sandy soil in Big Lake. Plus I refuse to spend money on watering it -- it's amazing how expensive water is here in the land of 10,000 lakes!
I finally got the rest of garden in and I water it everyday for a bit. Wish I knew an effective rain dance, but I'll see what I can do! We would do "rain dances" as children and chant some gibberish -- just don't remember if it worked! Have a great day and here's hoping for a soaking!
Barb - I used to have one of those, but sold it on a rummage sale because I didn't like the hat hair it created. Took awhile, but I did get used to drinking just one at a time.
Hey Dale,
I don't know if I have ever heard this song on your playlist, but the classical folks certainly have played it. It's a breathtaking choral piece called "Cloudburst" and the composer is Eric Whitacre and based on a poem by Octavio Paz.
Darcy
Dale...there is a classic 50s song about the end of a drought...is it "The Day the Rains came" - a 4-man group sang it, I think. It is about turning green again...
Karen Savoca's "Green" might summon a few rain drops - or her "The Year" would be on the drier end of the moisture spectrum.
morning, folks--
well, i am usually in the "let the lawn turn brown, it will be fine" camp, but this year, since i may be selling my house, i feel compelled to water....the perennials, the zinnia seedlings, the grass, all of it.
and it looks very nice, thank you!
since i have to put on my cowboy hat and go to sioux falls this weekend (see you tonight, donna!), i'm happy to have it rain tomorrow into sunday, if allah wills.
have a good one, y'all.
It's so dry we have had hardly any mosquitoes!
It's so dry I have to water the gardens before weeding or they won't budge.
It's so dry we don't HAVE to mow the lawn.
I'm with Anna about the water bill... As Sherilee, said, the storms keep just missing the Twin Cities.
Dale, Joni Mitchell does a great cover of Cool Clear Water, not sure the album... Maybe for Monday to either celebrate the rain we've had, or encourage more to come our way.
We moved to western North Dakota in 1987, and it has been, more or less, continual drought or just barely sufficient rain, ever since. We managed to keep gardens and trees going, but it has been a lot of work. This year is an exception, and I can't tell you what a relief it is. Out here, you know there's been enough moisture when it's green to the top of the buttes. All of you in the Minnesota/Wisconsin drought areas have my profound sympathy. It is amazing, though, when the rains do start to come again, how the flora seems to snap back like there never was a lask of moisture. Don't lose hope!
Barbara in Robbinsdale,
The Joni Mitchell cover of "Cool Water" is on both Joni Mitchell: The Complete Geffen Recordings, and The Beginning of Survival. Another of her songs that would be appropriate for a draught is "The Hissing of Summer Lawns." There's a lot of that going around lately.
How about Let it Rain by Eric Clapton? Seems like a pretty good one right now :)
my mother in denver commented to me the other night how much cooler and wetter-than-normal the weather is out there lately. and to think only a few years ago colorado was experiencing the driest and most fire-dangerous summer in a long time. watering restrictions are the norm out there, but not this year....yet.
i suppose mother nature likes to keep us all on our toes from time to time.
Thanks for the enlightened Western Perspective, Renee and incognitoboy!
- Become a Member
- Member Connect Accounts
- Leadership Circle
- Sustaining Members
- Member Discounts
- Become a Sponsor
- Tax Information
- Planned Giving
- Vehicle Donation
- Donate Stock