May's dried-up flowers

April showers bring May’s dried-up flowers. Perhaps that’s a bit of an exaggeration, but that statement certainly feels that way these days. What happened when May 1 hit? It’s like the weather overlords knew to shut nature’s spigots off at midnight April 30.

With the wettest April in 36 years, one would think that moisture-laden pattern would continue. One must wonder why in the world when the calendar flipped to May, we dried up out there. I’m not complaining. Who needs loads of drenched grass and roadways in addition to the chance of severe weather? That is the silver lining to drier weather.

So why are those flowers shriveling in early May after loads of rain in April? Obviously we have uncontrollable weather patterns determined by science, so we adapt to the situation by watering those flowers to liven them up by human intervention. Certainly watering plants may contribute to a drought situation if the dry pattern continues for several months or possibly years. Look no further on this problem than what’s happening in California. The Golden State has been experiencing an Exceptional Drought in many of California’s areas forced their governor to implement mandatory conservation procedures on its citizens and visitors alike. Could we end up in that situation in Georgia? Certainly. One only has to look at what we went through in 2007.

With it being so dry, that outdoor burning ban is in effect as it usually is from May to the end of September. With that ban in place, it makes me wonder why many jurisdictions throughout the states are not more concerned about individuals shooting off fireworks. Yes, it’s okay to celebrate, but with it being so dry, I hope that folks are cautious with their fireworks caches which do not seem to deplete until August.

Speaking of curtailing certain outdoor activities, I find interesting items on my runs. One day, I came across a hunting arrow. I’m not sure about hunting rules, but I doubt that it’s permitted in suburban Atlanta.  “Bambi” and her family frequently roam our neck of the woods, so hunting enthusiasts are most likely tempted to take down some deer, but shooting off arrows in a residential area is not a great idea. I’m not against “thinning out the herd” of “Bambis” in the neighborhood, but I don’t know if that’s the greatest method to reduce their numbers. I’m also wondering if it stays dry, will the deer be out more foraging for food and water. Time to get some thoughts from Ted Nugent, right? On second thought, let’s just be careful out there.

Of course this dry weather pattern can turn on a dime. One minute we could be dry as a bone and then the next, the skies open up with rain for weeks like it did 21 years ago with a dry May followed by one of the Peach State’s wettest summers.

As May 2015 drones on, we are seeing many of our young students graduate from high school and college, television programs ending their respective seasons and in some cases, entire runs. As of this writing, I’m not expecting a wonderful end to AMC’s Mad Men, but I’m quite curious as to where that show is going at the moment.  No matter if it’s dry or wet this May, enjoy those outdoor activities (while being careful, especially with the grills), attend those graduations and take in those end-of-season or final television episodes of your favorites programs.