GramaxRefugee

4 hours ago, mattskiva said:

So, banter time - but I have to ask here because it is driving us absolutely crazy.  Anyone else having problems with extreme ant infestations the past couple of years?

We live in a semi-rural area in Loudoun, 5+ acre zoned part of the county, with lots of forest and have always had plenty of everything - foxes, turkeys, deer and of course insects.  But in the time I have lived here, I have never seen the problems with ants - of all types - we are having now.  The little ones are constantly finding ways in, no matter how much we treat for them.  And the larger ones are everywhere outside too.

I just took down my Davis VP2 main station which had been on my fence.  It stopped working a few days ago and I figured the batteries were dead, so I went to open it up to replace the batteries.  When I pulled open the main compartment, I was confused at first by what I saw inside - then realized it was moving because there were about 500 large ants inside there.

They chewed up the wires and destroyed it - so now I have to try to replace it before I can get data again, and try to site it somewhere that the ants will have more trouble reaching it in the future.  They were presumably carpenter ants which like to nest in crevices inside structures.  I can't say for sure because I lost it when I saw them and hit them with the hose.

Somewhere on here I have some pictures of my Davis infested with ants, (for the 2nd or 3rd time BTW). But, it sounds like you have a more aggressive, wire-chewing type ant. Once I cleaned and fumigated the station, it was OK.

We were also wondering if we get more ants in dry years. For us, it has not been increasing really; just varying from year to year. 

Last week I used Bifen IT insecticide around the house and an ant hill, and it stopped them cold. I've been using Bifen primarily for tick management, but am finding that it is one of the most effective things I've ever tried.  Only a small application was needed.  Otherwise, I use a Borax type powder.

0.32" breezy 

Walked the dog and started getting steady rain. 

14 hours ago, SomeguyfromTakomaPark said:

I have run my AC only once besides the smoke days.  I don’t believe that’s ever happened before this deep into June. 

2009

In those days, I kept my AC covered for winter, and remember that I uncovered it just a week or so ahead of my wife's July 5 birthday. Just to make sure it would be ready.

Needless to say, we haven't run it yet this year either.

eta: 2009 wasn't nearly as rain-deprived as this year though.

0.40" total here.  

One hvy downpour with other showers before and after.

Part clearing now.

DCA  100

IAD  99

BWI  100

RIC. 100

14 hours ago, nw baltimore wx said:

I’ll ask the most important and burning question. How were the following winters? 

Jan 87 was famous for the double-whammy snowfall of about 12"+ 9" within a few days. Plus it was quite cold.

I remember the Northeast Blizzard of Dec 1969. . About 20-30" in NY/PA, but the usual shaft job for home. (My family traveled from Syracuse NY to MoCo right in the teeth of it)

Not too conclusive I guess.

1.87" for the month

Highest temp 81, lowest 38.  Cooler than normal; drier than normal.

16/5/2

1.07" total

0.53 " still raining moderate

AACo

0.33 for the day. 

Pretty much dry in the a.m.,  (which was good, to get some outdoor work done)

4.92" for the month of April.  First above-normal month since December.

Highest temp 88f;   lowest 31.

Gusty, rainy dog walk. We all agreed to shorten it.

53f,  probably about 1.3 " in the normal gauge. Davis says 1.70, but it's been having a tough month. Don't believe it.

1 hour ago, Stormfly said:

Just curious, what is the failure mode?

I only ask because I have a portable weatherradio alert (Ratshack brand, hehe) from the early 90s that still works.

Ditto. (Except substitute "mid 80s" for "early 90s")

Looks like 0.89 will be my total. (Normal funnel gauge)

Like others, my pollen-choked Davis electric gauge was noticeably less.

T- storms just hitting Annapolis about 1500. Hvy rain but not much thunder

Mega pods-o-pollen out here. Used a leaf blower to clean up . Otherwise reasonably pleasant morning. 

Low of 62

Only made 82 here.

Typical . Tide was high too.

36

7 minutes ago, FXW176 said:

Cool! About a third of mine chrys facing NNE. Haven’t quite figured out their pattern yet. Except that one will always saddle in the most inopportune place…

Released #15 a moment ago.

Oh wow; I didn't realize they required a guard dog.

Seriously though, that's a nice looking setup. Nice looking dog too.

Low of 31

Happy frozen Easter 

Following saga of the cherry trees, here it looks like they've finally blossomed. Still a few days away from full bloom I'd say, but I don't think I'll get a chance to photograph before Easter, so here you go.

On 4/1/2023 at 7:16 PM, Jebman said:

One thing I have GOT to learn to do is FOCUS. This aint south central Texas. I was walking around, daydreaming about a monster 15 foot week long snowblitz here at Palisades, chuckling about all the ski patrol having to dig all the chairlifts out of the snow, all while I watch them, while shoving popcorn into my face, along with a terminal payload of rich butter, and damn near almost fell right into a snow well. I was very fortunate, I just managed to catch myslef in time! You fall in a snow well with a tree in it, chances are you get injured and no one finds you til the summer! Snow wells form around trees as the snowpack settles and tends to pull away from the tree, and as frackin DEEP as this pack is, I'd be a frozen goner in no time. I got shaken up but good, I KNOW that was a near death experience and I went back in the damn village. I'll kick back safely at the bar and daydream about improbable 100,000 year mega blizzards here at Palisades. The clouds are interesting to look at as they go by, some of them BELOW me lmao! Too bad I didnt get to see a flake today. Maybe tomorrow.

Came across this recent video of tree well rescue. Not fake. Not staged. 

 (Glad we didn't lose our man Jeb) 

March total 1.42" for me .

Highest temp 80  ,  lowest 22

Not a very exciting report.

I know it's supposed to be an early spring, but the street cherry trees in my end of the neighborhood are finally thinking about budding. Over the hill, there's a different hybrid used and those trees are now in full blossom. The ones on our end still seemed to think it was January until Sunday (3/27). I'm sorry I don't know the name of the hybrid for either tree. Photo is one in my front yard.