Tuesday, March 22, 2011

This Isn't Camelot

 No one likes the d word. Especially gardeners. So when it rains in California in the winter we don't complain. Or we do complain but only because we think we should be able to garden every day and it should only rain at night. Although maybe that was a movie. Anyway, gardeners really do know that we need rain and in California that means we'd better get enough in the winter because we don't do summer rain in any measurable amounts. This past weekend was an answer to a gardener's prayers except for the only at night part. We got right around 2 inches of rain this weekend which put us over our yearly average, and we're not done yet. I have to admit I can't believe it was only 2 inches...it started raining Thursday and rained off and on through Friday and then almost continuously Saturday and most of Sunday, at times extremely hard.
This area where the patio meets the so-called lawn often floods for a few minutes but never to this extent and it usually soaks in minutes after the rain stops. Sunday night, several hours after the rain ended, it was still flooded, testament to the saturated condition of the soil.

 The front path flooded under the bench, something I've rarely seen happen. No rain Monday and none predicted until tonight have allowed things to dry a bit, hopefully including the succulents which have almost all been moved back to their real homes out from under the patio cover. In any case, the nights are not as cold as they were and I'm hoping everyone is happy out there.  I'm glad to know we won't be terribly low on water this summer...I may have a lot of drought tolerant areas but it doesn't mean they can survive without some summer watering.





10 comments:

Cindy, MCOK said...

I'm glad you got rain but I'm sorry you got it all at once! The gardens will be happier for having had it when summer rolls around!

Helen Yoest @ Gardening With Confidence said...

Whoa doggie, you got some rain. If only, rain knew how to pace herself.

Mr. McGregor's Daughter said...

Anyone who has gone through a drought has learned not to curse the rain. It's wonderful that your garden got such a good soaking.

Carol Michel said...

Rain is a good thing. Keep repeating that to yourself. Rain is a good thing... rain is a good thing...

Dee @ Red Dirt Ramblings said...

Good news, but I hope you don't wash away. :)

growingagardenindavis said...

Cindy...I hope you get some!
I know Helen...seems like it does that better for you.
Yes...I'd hate to start watering much in March Barb.
Carol...the original title of this was "It's a Good Thing"!
So far we're staying put Dee...being such a flat town has it's advantages!

Layanee said...

I am so glad you got the needed rain and I hope Mother Nature is not stingy with it this year. Camelot lives in dreams and movies, one of my favorite places.

Unknown said...

Glad that you're pre-stocked for the summer, Leslie... but BOO that it happened to come all at once. (Although... maybe it would have been less fun to have it stretch out over a whole week?!) :)

growingagardenindavis said...

Mine too, Layanee!
Hi Kim! We are supposedly getting another inch or so...starting any minute!

Annie in Austin said...

Your saturated garden photos look so very refreshing from here, Leslie!
We're hearing the D word again. That 13" of rain that hit all at once last September is long gone.
Hope the succulents recover ;-]

Annie at the Transplantable Rose