SWINGING INTO SUMMER

June, the month of changes, high school graduations, weddings, and the warmth of sunshine after a very cool spring, all promising a busy month. Garlic fields, hiding under the snow were seen three days later as fields of green.

In one coastal area unsual News Hour reported chunks of ice the size of footballs fall from a clear blue sky last week. One man mowing his lawn watched a dozen of these huge hailstones spin from the cloudless sky, one narrowly missing him. The weather bureau had trouble explaining how this could happen declaring these large hailstones may have come from high in the atmosphere. Neighbours gathered some of the large ice chunks to place in freezers so they could be analyzed later.

With the sudden entrance of the hot days of sun, the TV and radio programs are warning people to apply sunscreen every two hours and again after leaving the swimming pool. The news hour also reminded listeners to stay out of the sun between l:00 am and 2:00 pm or else wear a wide brim hat. The sun index reading on June 4th was declared to be plus 8 - the number usually reserved for mid summer. Last year mothers were told by their doctors to start using sunscreen on babies only after one year of age - this year it has been changed to using mild sunscreen after six months with caution. Fair skin burns easily and mothers usually keep their babies well shaded. Further north in the Cariboo area forest workers required 80 firefighters as well as four helicopters to try to extinguish the flames and watch for hotspots.

Many people have started vegetable gardens this year, and several community gardens have been organized. We can feel right up with the Obama family in the White House. It's time to finish the planting, according to Brian Minter, the B.C Gardener.