Norfolk’s August 2018 Weather
More Heat and Humidity By Russell Russ August continued our summer of heat and humidity here in Norfolk. It was another hot and humid month with above-average rainfall, kind of like it has been all summer long. If you like your summers hot then this year was your year. August’s low temperature of 52 degrees […]
Through the Garden Date: September, Darling Dahlias
By Leslie Watkins Dahlias are among the darlings of the specialty cut-flower world. They are big, bold and beautiful in both gardens and arrangements, and if conditioned and cared for properly they will last five days or more in a vase. They are available in every color except blue, and flowers range in size […]
Norfolk’s July 2018 Weather
Fourth Warmest Month on Record By Russell Russ July was a wet and very warm month. Compared to more urban locations, Norfolk typically sees cooler summer temperatures. The town’s forested landscape and higher elevation play heavily into this cooling influence. Sometimes, though, the heat and humidity during the dog days of summer can overtake […]
August, A Garden of Simples
Let thy kitchen be thy apothecary, and let foods be thy medicine. —Hippocrates By Leslie Watkins How nice to pinch a sprig of peppermint to add to your drink, or to collect basil and garlic from your garden for an impromptu pesto. Chives, parsley, and dill are wonderful plants to have close at hand to […]
Norfolk’s June 2018 Weather
Nice Summer Weather By Russell Russ June’s low temperature of 43 degrees was observed on June 4, and the high of 88 degrees was observed on June 18. With an average monthly mean temperature of 63.6 degrees, it was just 0.3 degree above normal. There were only a few really warm days in June, […]
July, King of Flowers
By Leslie Watkins The botanical family Paeoniaceae contains just one genus; paeony or peonies, with over thirty species and more than a thousand named cultivars. These glorious blooms are large, extravagant, fragrant, long-lived and make wonderful cut flowers, if you can bear to cut them. They symbolize good fortune, a happy life and happy […]
Norfolk’s May 2018 Weather
From Prolonged Winter to Second Warmest May on Record By Russell Russ Once again, May was Norfolk’s transition month into summer, although this year it seemingly happened in just the span of a day or two. Temperatures went from a low of 34 degrees on May 1 (with snowfall on April 30) to a […]
Norfolk’s April 2018 Weather
Prolonged Winter By Russell Russ April began cool and snowy and it stayed that way throughout most of the month. Warm and beautiful early spring days were few and very far between this April. It was more like winter was the unwanted guest that just would not leave the party. Late March showed signs […]
Finding True Southern Barbecue and a Touch of History in Burrville
Out and About By Colleen Gundlach There are few restaurants in the area that can say they prepare their entire menu fresh daily, and even fewer that start cooking the day’s food at 5:45 a.m. For Lou and Gina Gabriel, however, this is their reality, because developing the deep, rich flavors of barbecue takes […]
May, The Queen of Flowers
By Leslie Watkins Of all the magnificent designs and decorations used by people to embellish their architecture, textiles, tables and walls, the rose motif is the most beloved. The Queen of Flowers has held us in her rapture for millennia. Rose fossils date back 35 million years. Ancient nomads traveled far and wide, bringing […]
