Hello all

I know this week is like if Al Gore opened the arctic windows to compensate for the global warming but I noticed a bright side to this coldest day (-31C or -24F tonight in Ottawa ON, January 15, 09), and the good news is that yesterday was the lowest 'average minimum' temperature day of the year for our area i.e. January 13 & 14 have the lowest 'average minimum' temperature of year when averaged over some 70 years. I know it does not mean much because fig plants are killed not by the average minimum temperatures in most locations but by the abnormal low temperatures occurrences that stay for a few days; but still there is a good sign to enjoy today’s date; like the pagans used to celebrate the 3rd week of December, not for the shortest day but the reversal of the daylight (even if the temperatures reversal lagged, like hysteresis effect due to latent heat). I had to find something to feel better about and I think I did. You can check the date for your area lowest 'average minimum' temperature date. When you plot these 'average minimum" temperatures over time of the year, it gives a perfect sine wave. Today we emerged from the lowest point of the sine wave (of minimum average plotted against time of the year). Other areas in the North East away from big water bodies should closely follow this pattern.

Fig plants will be happy to know this.

Well, even though it would have solved my fig ripening problems but I have been ignoring it and do not wish for it because there could be so many unforeseen/unexpected/undesired changes accompanying the global warming. There is a good reference to a discussion on the topic in a recent post in the fig forum by cuddywiffer.

Tonight

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• -31°C

No chance for dormancy break any time sooner (that is -24F). There is an alert for not touching any metal thing with bare hands and surely not to touch your car keys with your tongue (unless you have hot cup of coffee to separate the keys from you tongue). We can expect to -35C (-31F) any time in the next four weeks.