Lingering effects of summer

— A couple of weeks ago I wrote about the hot dry summer we were enduring, and since there wasn’t space in the paper that week, I’m tempted to update the story since we had that great 2-plus inch rain recently.

What a welcome rain it was! And by the time this is published, more has fallen.

But back to the hot and dry we experienced during the last half of July and all of August. It brought back memories that folks in western Benton County experienced during those depression days ‘30s. And a few 1950s years thrown in for good measure.

A drive around the area shows the effects of the fast-fading summer. The pastures, though trying to recover, are still terribly parched-dry and the lawns and other vegetation remain mainly crisp and brown.

(As an aside, remember that in spite of recent rains, fire danger will remain high through autumn and into spring, so remember to call the county, 866-207-5140, to report a controlled burn and/or to receive information about burn bans).

The hillsides are showing the effects of the drought.

Oak trees, particularly, are showing brown, hopefully not the result of oak borers that have been causing havoc in some areas.

Not only is my lawn mostly brown, but a tree I planted about 40 years ago is literally biting the dust.

Limbs are noticeably dead and leaves litter the yard.

Actually, it is not one tree, but rather three trees.

I planted the three small trees - shorter than I am - in a single hole and they have grown together to form a nice clump specimen. Members of the poplar family, they are known as dog-tooth aspen, though they are not aspen. They are short-lived and have probably outlived their normal life span. Drat it.

The late corn crop, which was planted with such great expectations in late July, was a disaster from the start. The first planting was gobbled up by a burrowing mole and only one plant poked through.

I treated the mole runs with a “guaranteed” elixir with a formula supplied by Maurine Styles: Hot sauce, liquid soap, chili powder and water. Yuk!

But it worked. The second planting bode real well for October roasting ears.

It was then the drought and heat hit. You know the rest of the story. In spite of pouring $$$$$ worth of water, the plants reached the amazing height of one foot. That’s right. That’s when the tassels appeared.

And not an ear was in sight.

The watering stopped. The bill arrived on time.

I went to the county fair one afternoon and was it ever hot. Misting in the livestock building was helpful, but no doubt the animals were stressed. The other fair exhibits lived up to expectations; even the garden produce, in spite of the weather. And the ladies’ handiwork showed their many talents.

The thing I miss mostly about the fair are those food booths various organizations operated at the old fair site. There is nothing quite like a fair burger. But the lemonade and other stands seemed thriving.

And the midway, though it was mid-day, looked much improved from recent years.

No, I didn’t ride anything.

The heat was enough to keep my head spinning.

Anyway, that’s enough about heat and drought.

Autumn is upon us, and can winter be far behind? It’s great to live in a land of seasons. If one is particularly unpleasant, we can always look forward to better days.

And they are coming. I just hope the drought has not completely done-in our normal fall foliage display.

Dodie Evans is Editor Emeritus of the Westside Eagle Observer and can be reached at devans@ nwaonline.com.

Opinion, Pages 6 on 09/15/2010