El Niño in the PNW?

I saw on the news this AM that UW is predicting drought this winter due to a new El Niño. How does this affect our gardening other then having to water through the winter? Will the warmer winter cause other problems? Pests, disease, some plants that need a freeze dying or not blooming (bulbs)? The last El Niño I was living in the CA Sierras and we had some whopper snow storms. Different problems obviously!

Theoretically El Nino gives us a somewhat warmer and drier winter than usual, but the last thing I heard was the El Nino conditions this year were so weak they didn't expect to see much effect. Maybe they've changed their predictions.

I think so MzW, the papers presented at the UW CIG yesterday seem to be leaning toward a weak to moderate El Niño that will effect both our fall/winter/spring temperatures as well as our rainfall. If so, I just want to know how to prepare. I've worked so hard the last two seasons, I want to do all can to I give my plant babies what they need to make it through such an event.

I don't remember the last el nino event here. But there have been many winters that were warmer and drier and the only thing that seemed to be different is that we had more bugs the next year and I lost fewer plants to the winter wet. We get so much rain during the winter in general, that I'm not sure what they mean by 'dryer'. I can't imagine it being really, really 'dry'. But, if we don't get enough snowpack, that might impact communities that depend on that for watering plants in the dry summer. I'd be more worried about that.

Pixydish, you hit a very big concern. Snowpack and summer water. Olympic organizers are getting worried up here about the 2010 Olympics if such predictions continue. Grass skiing anyone? Really all I care about is not having another 28 days straight of rain like last January. That was way too much!

Ditto! It drives me totally insane! Strangely, though, it's supposed to be in the low 70's next week. Imagine!

Oh good point of concern on the Olympics, growin. You know, it's Mother Earth and nothing seems to change so drastically in just a year or two or three. I predict they will have ample snow upon which to ski and otherwise hurtle downwards at death-dfying speeds. And don't I enjoy watching it? You bet!

We must be in similar microclimates growin: 31 inches of water fell on our deck/yard last January. You can only look out the window and hope it will end someday soon.

Poochella, you'll have to take a little drive that year to watch the Olympics in person. Maybe we should have a DG get together.

Yes, that month of rain was too long and just didn't seem to end. Very depressing. Lakes had formed on the sidewalk and the park had turned into one big mud pitt. We are havin' an awful nice fall so far, though. The trees are colouring-up better than normal.

The fall has been so nice that I have put off until, very likely, the last minute, getting my tender plants into the greenhouse. I started to cut back the largest brugmansia today, only to find small flower buds. I'm going to wait. I can't imagine there being enough heat to sustain the growth it would need, but stranger things have happened!

I've got most of my tenders inside, I did keep the blooming burgs out, but put them under the patio roof.. I want to see a different one bloom. My amorphs are still out under the roof. I just like to look at them. I'm now transplanting to different gardens. I have help this week, because my "stupid" (I'm serious) grandson got kicked out of school for 10days. errrrrrrrrrrrrr!!! so he will be digging and transplanting for me.
I'm not looking forward to the rain this winter, its been such a nice summer and fall..

Viv

Shhhh! don't say the 'r' word! Meant to get that box out to you this weekend, but failed miserable. My DD came home for the weekend and I spent little time in the garden. But I'll get it out to you soon. And it's supposed to be sunny this afternoon!

It looks sunny to me... and dont worry about the box, I've got pleanty to do...

Viv

Oh my, there are a lot of people from my area. COOL!!
Anyway, last el nino, my geraniums and fuschias just kept blooming all winter!! Was very nice.
I'm just now taking cuttings from them so I have more for next year. You know how plants are, just can't have just 1. lol
Take care, Kathy
p.s. Here's a pic. of my memorial shed

Doxiesmom, love the garden "bed". Great idea!

Hmm ... some people have so much imagination ... and then there's me. Interesting garden ideas there Doxiesmom.

I'm thinking about moving my "fuschia pot" into the greenhouse for the winter, but I'd really like to make some changes to it for next year. Maybe I'll just take some cuttings to start over with so I can dismantle and improve it for next year. I really hate to lose something that's actually growing & blooming!

What a day! I turned almost an entire yard of compost into one of the beds. I will need another yard before that bed is completed. I'm hoping it will help that bed take less water next year, and make the plants healthier. I look at the pile of plants that have to be returned to the ground and I rue my own plant lust!