Well, I thought it was a good year compared to what we in the Midwest have been dealing with for the last 3 years.

Dave

Weather wise, it was a very pleasant year here in the upper midwest as well. Cool, moist, and devoid of major storms. It was like gardening in Victoria, BC. I did almost no hand watering, which is a rarity for me. This summer was as nice as last winter was nasty.

High temp for the summer here was 89F, on two afternoons. 45F a couple of mid-August mornings.

Strangely, the first frost held back -- finally got 30F the other morning & that wasn't cold enough to turn frost-sensitive leaves like catalpa or ginkgo to mush.

It wasn't too bad in central Texas. Not too many 100*F days. Moisture-wise, it was about average. I seriously hope I'd never see a repeat of 2011. Man, that was a terrible year for Texas...

Everything point to a weak-moderate El Nino coming this winter/spring so that would mean above average rainfall (and colder weather as well) for me. We will see how that pans out...

With the exception of June moisture have been below average all the way through October. With the average to below average temps it didn't really become an issue.

Assuming your a Royals fans...good luck to cap it off. I'm going to be sick if San Fran wins. Just as bad as the cards winning another world series.

Thanks Dave, nice picture.
In the leftmost of the scene, there is a fat variegated spruce. What is the whispy, tiered, light green thing behind/above it?

davidrt28,

That has to be Picea orientalis 'Skylands'. A late bloomer the tinge of yellow is bud break.

A better angle of the conifer you are describing as "whispy, tiered, light green thing behind/above it"?

whaas...Go Royals.

Dave

Yep! Compared to that spruce in front, it doesn't look as variegated. But I recognize it as a Skylands now.