To have a slight feeling of dread?

[DiddlyWiddly]

I’m in the south east, the weather recently has been odd, in my opinion anyway.

We had a few days of alternating snow and sunshine, literally sunshine pouring down followed by snow then back to sunshine.

Now we are nearing the end of April and maybe it’s just me, but it seems unusually hot and dry?
My garden was very thoroughly drenched with the hose just a few days ago and although the more shaded parts are absolutely fine, the soil in the more exposed, sunny portion is already baked dust dry.
Desert dry.
Some of the plants are wilting and in need of water again and we are only in April.
We haven’t even reached proper summer yet.

I’m feeling a little nervous for the future, if it’s like that here in April, what is it going to be like in the peak of summer?
What is it like in traditionally hotter countries?
How will the farmers cope?
How will we find sufficient water?
Ornamental flowers are one thing but fruit and vegetables need water to grow, quite a lot of water for certain edibles.

And another thing I noticed yesterday, admittedly a lot of my ‘fail safes’ like Buddleja and open roses and snapdragons are not flowering yet but I haven’t seen many bees around, even on sunny days and when I have, I have witnessed them landing then leaving plants I have bought that allegedly they like!
The bees I have seen have only really been on my dandelions, my bird cherry and I saw one bee on a hyacinth.
I have seen barely any butterflies, just one peacock butterfly.
Hardly any insects anywhere.
Not just in my garden but in the surrounding area.

Is anyone else feeling a bit antsy?

I am reading the book Garden Jungle by Dave Goulson Link

It is an easy read, very funny actually, and full of information on how to increase the insect life in your garden. I think he's just done a new book specifically on bees.

I'm in the South-East and although it has been dry for quite a while now and today is beautifully sunny, it is actually pretty cold for the end of April. I'm still in jeans and a jumper

We're in the south east, yes bone dry but it's still cold. We have plenty of insects. Our garden is full of bumble bees today.

@TonTonMacoute

I am reading the book Garden Jungle by Dave Goulson ]]

It is an easy read, very funny actually, and full of information on how to increase the insect life in your garden. I think he's just done a new book specifically on bees.

I will definitely look into that though I’m not sure I can fit many more plants in! I have more than 100 varieties and bar maybe 4 or 5 they are all marketed as pollinator friendly varieties.

I have a pond and stumpery too so in theory my garden should be an insect haven.
But it isn’t.

Or maybe I am just too early and worrying for nothing this year but there does seem to be a definite decline in insect numbers overall.

Not just in my garden but generally, over the past few years, PP have mentioned the lack of squashed windscreen bugs but I walk large distances daily and I can’t remember the last time I walked through a cloud of those irritating little midge things either, I don’t see many butterflies out and about and when i do, it’s nearly always a cabbage white or peacock, rarely any other varieties, bees and wasps there don’t seem to be as many around.

@DiddlyWiddly

I guess all the climate change stuff is playing on my mind a bit. The number of insects I’m noticing out and about has plummeted and all this talk of running out of water and the earth heating up and bone dry summers. I guess I’m just looking out in April at my bone dry insectless garden and just feeling a tad antsy.

The 'climate change stuff' should prey on our minds tbh.

The problem is people don;t want to hear doom stories - but you are absolutely right (sadly) about some of the issues we will face, alongside increased war, more disease.

I think it feels more scary this week because Biden is taking it more seriously.

Insect numbers are a major worry.

I think these are things to be concerned about but on a day to day basis I can’t allow myself to focus on them as it does trigger anxiety.

I don't think you're being unreasonable. Climate change is definitely happening.

The frost and icy winds have wrecked my pieris, hebe, and carex, even the nandina and usually tough-as-old-boots leucethoe (so?) are looking discoloured. And my artemisia isn't sprouting yet.

Hosta is looking vigorous though...

Sorry, no help on climate change but glad it's not just me wondering what's happening this year. I'm not worried though, nature will come through.

🐇 🤗

Last year (maybe year before time is odd currently) we had a heatwave in February and I felt sick to my stomach, like it's actually happening.

I think this year is much colder that it has been in April but it's very dry. I do worry we've done too little too late, but I'm not sure I can do much about it all.

I have more than 100 varieties and bar maybe 4 or 5 they are all marketed as pollinator friendly varieties.

You need to be careful where you buy plants, especially those from supermarkets, as have been saturated with pesticides by the commercial nurseries where they are cultivated. Even though they are labelled as attractive to pollinators!

@Marmite27

It’s predicted to rain all week next week here.

It has indeed rained today and yesterday.

You need to be careful where you buy plants, especially those from supermarkets, as have been saturated with pesticides by the commercial nurseries where they are cultivated. Even though they are labelled as attractive to pollinators!
I thought the UK and EU had banned that?

I've seen loads of bees recently, a few big queen bees looking for somewhere to nest and either wasps or bees that aren't bumble bees. I've seen ladybirds and woodlice in the garden and flying insects of different kinds. I have a number of fruit trees in different stages of blossom currently.

It has been very warm and dry for April here, though the nights have been cold. The weather has changed this week with clouds and some very light rain.

We have loads of bees and wasps are here and it has been freezing and pissing it down all day (South East).

But YANBU to be worried about climate change. I am too.

It's the bank holiday on Monday, it'll rain

YANBU to he worried. I have livestock and already we are concerned about hay yields this year. Last year many suppliers ran out after the hot summer with little rain. Farmers are concerned about grass growth for their livestock. We really do need rain.

My water butt is already empty.

It's a myth that April is a wet month. When I was looking up weather for my wedding it turned out that on average April is the driest month of the year. I also looked up average temperatures after all of my friends were going on about how cold it was and found that where I am at least, temperatures in April have been below what they were for the last 3 years.

But I mean, climate change is obviously real, I just don't think this particular month is any real evidence of it.

@DiddlyWiddly

I thought the UK and EU had banned that?

Yes, this research led to a ban on neonicotinoids - they now just use other pesticides that are as harmful.