The challenges of gardening out here on the high desert and at the foot of the Cascade Mountains are many, but to me, the worst and most frustrating are the frequent spring and summer frosts. We are on frost alert right now, full moon tonight, a risky time. This apple bloom time has been the mildest (in terms of few frosty nights) in my 29 years of living here on this property.. I have had one tree full of apples once, and maybe three times we had a couple apples. This year I am almost giddy, all four apple trees have fruit, as well as plum and pears trees are with babies. Now I say my prayers, because tiny, baby fruit can still be frozen off of the limbs.
Two nights ago it was 30 degrees on the thermoter in my front yard, but we had rain the night before and everything was wet, so not too much damage was done. I did, however notice a bunch of my strawberry blossoms blackened. Meanwhile, since there are not too many clouds this evening, I will carry in several dozen tender potted plants, I just do not trust it.
If we get through this crisis spot, we will maybe be safe again till mid-June when we often have frosts again. Watch out around the forth of July and mid August. Actually any night of the year can frost here in Central Oregon. I have seen snow fly around the forth of July several times. Our climate is warming, however, whether global warming or other causes or cycles, I might get apples this year and am for the third time having a lilac bloom.