thanks for a great reminder! I have a wonderful Lee Valley Tools ten year journal that I regularly make entries into in regards to the temperature, weather and such. I had thought that our weather was unusual, until I went back and looked at the recorded temperatures, and apparently this is normal for Eastern Tennessee. I need to drag out the Organic Gardening journals and see how they compare to my recordings in Nashville......Happy New year to you!

madgardener up on the ridge, back in Fairy Holler, overlooking English Mountain with an awesome sunset commensing, in Dandridge, zone 7, Sunset zone 36

Madgardener, a weather journal is a great idea. I'm never quite that organized.

Ruling day 2-February: Here it was unseasonably warm (60's) with a cloudy morning changing to cloudy and sunny. Fog in the morning. Overall it was a mild day. We'll see.

Ruling day 3-March. Started the day unseasonably warm again (60's) but clear and sunny. Temperatures got cooler during the afternoon, but still mild. Breezy winds and clouds but no rain. Storms farther east.

Today's weather was very different depending on where you live in Tennessee. Kind of typical for March.

I love the weather journal idea, too. And I've been keeping track of the Ruling Days. So far 2006 looks to be a good year. Ruling Day 3 in Lincoln County is unseasonably warm - 72° and alternating between sunny and cloudy. It was a wonderful day. Yesterday was not quite as warm and grey most of the day. I planted some saffron crocus.

See, the organization thing is getting to me already.

Ruling day 4-April. Overcast all day. Chilly with scattered showers.

Ruling day 5-May. Mixed sun and clouds. Cool but average temperatures. Evening thunderstorms.

My regular crocus are poking up all over the place. I wish I had planted some more, but I waited too late to buy any.

Sounds like excellent weather for the Swap in May, again!!!

BOV , as a weather optimist, you are a true Gardener. And since you are already thinking ahead to the swap, you must be very organized as well.

Ruling Day 6-June. Sunny, Unseasonably warm (60's). Beautiful and clear.

I will have spring fever just in time for Mid-Jaunary to shut me down.

Ruling Day 7-January 1-July. Overcast, warm. Unseasonably warm (60's). Drizzly.

Ruling Day 8-January 2-August. Very Warm (70's). Sunny, Stormy.

The heat is off and the windows are open. At least the house will get a good mid-winter airing out. Since this is Tennessee I will wait a day or so and see if the weather changes again.

This is definately new to me. I hadn't heard of Ruling Days. How does one find these dates?
Grateful for guidance,
Leigh

So, our arks need to be completed by August? Tonight's weather extrapolated into August is one scarey thought.

A hot, stormy August would certainly be interesting. I wonder how that would translate for hurricane season? Too scary to think about. The rain blew right through here yesterday (East Davidson Co), some folks north in Hendersonville got more rain and wind than we did and some folks down in Spring Hill didn't get anything. That's how it can vary from one place to the next.

Leigh-There was a long and detailed post in the Southern Gardening forum last year about the lore and history of ruling days. Although I learned a lot, it was a year ago and I have forgotten most of the details. I can't find the thread or I would re-post a link. My grandmother always counted the ruling days as the 12 days after Christmas, some people count the first 12 days of January as ruling days. I go with the 12 days after Christmas. Each day corresponds to a month.

Ruling day 9-January 3-September. Cooler (50's). Overcast, but no rain.

I've been particularly paying attention to the strange weather all over the country during the current Ruling Days - all the storms in California, fires in Texas and Oklahoma. Made me wonder about the hurricanes in August, too. We had nearly a record high with thunderstorms and lots of wind.

Leigh, my grandparents also started counting the Ruling Days on 26 December. Last year's discussion was very interesting. I had not seen some of that info before and I bookmarked it. Enjoy!

Here is a link that might be useful: previous discussion of Ruling Days

Thanks for the link! I always appreciate the information and cooperation that happens around this forum. Epiphany, I can never remember that.

Ruling day 10-October-January 4. Beautiful sunny,clear day. Unseasonably warm temps (69-70). breezy. Indian Summer?

We have a chance for flurries on Friday, wouldn't that be interesting?

Ruling Day 11-November-January 5. Cold (40), overcast and scattered drizzle.

All good things must come to an end and tomorrow as Epiphany will be the ruling day for December. Could be an interesting peek at the end of next year!

Here we are at the last Ruling Day. In our area Ruling Day 12 (December) is cold - only 34° and is not to get much warmer. We have chances of snow flurries and a low tonight predicted in the mid 20s. Hmmm. A white Christmas would be nice.

Decolady01 you nailed it!

Ruling Day 12-December-January 6. Cold! Very Cold! Highs in the mid 30's and lows in the 20's. It was spitting snow when I left home this morning and still a little more at lunch. Dry snow though, nothing sticking. Overcast skies.

There you have the ruling days for Middle TN for 2006. Do with them what you will.Thanks to everyone who has been reading, commenting or participating.Since is it so darn cold here, I will go out to enjoy a cold weather sport tonight. Go Predators!