Although it's nowhere near as green as the Pacific Northwest seen in your photos, you might be surprised by how green the desert is these days, as we've had quite a bit of rain this summer.
In fact, I can't recall it ever being this green (relatively speaking, of course) in September. If the winter weather cooperates, we could be in for a great wildflower season next March...
It's been a weird weather year here in southern New England and all over the mostly drought-stricken country I traveled in May and June. I also hit temperatures of 113° F in *four* different places. Expected in Imperial, CA, I suppose, but not the other three. And in Buena Vista, CO, at just under 8,000 feet elevation, the afternoon temperature was well over 100. Not at all normal.
My Home town. Actually the Yakima Valley is a desert. It is only because of a very complex irrigation system that Yakima became "The Fruit Bowl Of The Nation". Apples, Cherries, Pears, and of course the best Hops in the world.
Ernie, I was still in the rain storm rolling down out of Rainier National Park, but as I headed east toward Walla Walla the change was dramatic. By the time I was near Milton-Freewater it was obvious that the fields were entirely dependent on irrigation. Funny, maybe because of my specific route, I don't remember going through orchards.
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Although it's nowhere near as green as the Pacific Northwest seen in your photos, you might be surprised by how green the desert is these days, as we've had quite a bit of rain this summer.
In fact, I can't recall it ever being this green (relatively speaking, of course) in September. If the winter weather cooperates, we could be in for a great wildflower season next March...
It's been a weird weather year here in southern New England and all over the mostly drought-stricken country I traveled in May and June. I also hit temperatures of 113° F in *four* different places. Expected in Imperial, CA, I suppose, but not the other three. And in Buena Vista, CO, at just under 8,000 feet elevation, the afternoon temperature was well over 100. Not at all normal.
My Home town. Actually the Yakima Valley is a desert. It is only because of a very complex irrigation system that Yakima became "The Fruit Bowl Of The Nation". Apples, Cherries, Pears, and of course the best Hops in the world.
Ernie, I was still in the rain storm rolling down out of Rainier National Park, but as I headed east toward Walla Walla the change was dramatic. By the time I was near Milton-Freewater it was obvious that the fields were entirely dependent on irrigation. Funny, maybe because of my specific route, I don't remember going through orchards.
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