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Vegetable Gardening

FINALLY some rain!

nancyjane_gardener

10 years ago

Severe drought here in No Cal! But the last few days we have finally received about 6"!!!!! Local flooding, but that's OK!
There's no way we will catch up to the normal of about 25", but at least we have more storms coming in on the Pineapple express!
What cracked me up, was that even though we were way short on rain last year, they didn't declare a "DROUGHT" until a couple of weeks ago, then they announced it like it was a big surprise!
I think it's different for "townies" who have water flowing as opposed to us in the country who have to rely on wells. I think we pay more attention! No offense to you "townies"!
Anyway, happy rain to us in CA!!!!!! Nancy

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Comments (13)

mckenziek
10 years ago
I'm with you Nancy!

But to be honest, I am looking forward to a little break so I can spend some more time outside.

Also, I got a cow a couple of months ago, and she is messing up the pasture sinking in to this mud.

--McKenzie
stuffradio
10 years ago
Glad to hear it!
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We were below normal for precipitation December through March; but since April we've had good consistent rains. Got about 1.25" last week & picked up a good 1" today plus a good chance for more this afternoon. We've not hooked up the hoses yet this season. Between the rain & cool weather even my pots are doing great on their own. I'm enjoying my gardens so much this year. After my lupus diagnosis in Jan. '08, I caved & hired a full-service, real gardener. He mows, weeds, prunes, fertilizes, mulches, rakes, transplants...anything that needs doing if I'm having a bad pain week. I feel blessed to have found him. It's allowing me to enjoy the garden again instead of feeling depressed because I can no longer maintain everything on my own & DH is only here 1-1/2 days/week. What I'm appreciating the most is that I don't have to tell him what to do...he's a gardener so he just intuitively knows. Example: last week I purchased 7 geranium macrorrhizum 'Variegata' (is that right?). Anyway, I put them under the 'Snow Fountain' cherry & went in to lay down cause my legs hurt so bad I couldn't walk any more. Steve came while I was sleeping. When I went outside my geraniums were planted & mulched. He reads my mind. I swear he does. He planted those geraniums so that they will fill in to make about a 3' edge to the border & then sweep in towards the center of the bed in a drift...just what I had wanted. I thought about him as I was typing about the rain 'cause normally he comes on Tuesdays...he'll be here tomorrow when it's a bit drier. Between Steve & Chandra (the housekeeper I hired at the same time), & PeaPod delivering my groceries I'm getting my life back on track. It's hard to accept that limitations exist & you just have to adapt. I've always sworn I'd never have anybody else clean my house...well, now I do & I'm very grateful & appreciative of her hard work. Hope everybody needing rain gets their fair share. /tricia
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Yes, Nan... The rain was a welcome treat! You and I have the same kind of "lawn" (LOL). I often refer to it in my columns as our "so-called lawn." A colleague from Garden Writers Association often chides me and says I should get rid of it. She doesn't understand that I actually enjoy it, especially when I play croquet with our grandson and other neighborhood children. A garden instead of lawn would not work. The weeds do not impede the croquet balls. Enjoy your weeding today! ~ Hilda
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nanelle_gw (usda 9/Sunset 14)
10 years ago
One happy "townie". In fact, my lot is the furthest lot technically IN the town, because of my fears of the whole well thing. Also the highest lot, so we don't flood like many around here do/did.

Best wishes.
nancyjane_gardener
Original Author
10 years ago
HA!!!! The local paper reported how many FEET instead of inches of rain!
That was pretty crazy! Our river area gets at least twice as much rain as us on the plains!.....But it was great! 1 1/2 FEET of rain in the river area with no flooding! About 8" here! I'll take it! Nancy
Deeby
10 years ago
I wish we'd get a few inches, but we won't. I feel guilty using the hose !
More than anything, I wish it would get warm and stay warm. This is the first time that cold weather has really bothered me. I used to welcome fall and winter. Not anymore ! Getting old, I guess.
insteng
10 years ago
Congratulations, I know what you are going through. We have had a severe drought here for the last couple years until it finally broke this year.
floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK
10 years ago
Drought must be horrendous for you. I'm glad you have had some rain at last.

Meanwhile - we have plenty to spare.

Here is a link that might be useful: {{gwi:26110}}
nancyjane_gardener
Original Author
10 years ago
Oh MY, Floral! Been there also! Nancy
seysonn
10 years ago
Come to the PNW area, we've got rain, rain and more rain, 9 months of the year. It will continue till mid May or so. Right now the forecast shows rain for as long as it can be forecasted.(Grin).

I would trade this rain to some sunshine.

This post was edited by seysonn on Wed, Feb 12, 14 at 5:46
User
10 years ago
Actually, "they" have been reporting on the drought all along, from the US Drought monitor's page. It just took the news a while to notice, when the drought surpassed historic levels.

Here is a link that might be useful: US drought map
nancyjane_gardener
Original Author
10 years ago
ltilton... Oh I know! The local stations have been talking about it for over a year, but it didn't become "official" until last month!When the "officials" made the declaration!
We've been in drought mode for a year now! We actually never really went out of it from the 1978 drought!
AAAAaand they want us to cut back watering by 20%! How do you cut back when you are already cutting back???? Same for the electric bill! I'm already the "light nazi!"
Thankfully, I have a well and use what I want to! Nancy
User
10 years ago
You don't worry about your well?

I do, tho the well guys say I shouldn't have to.
mckenziek
10 years ago
I am on a well, too. Seems to be a good one. There is also a creek on the property boundary. It is just a trickle during summer, but it doesn't quite dry up.

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