You know that mine is Ruthie. If you see the radar reports, I am on the S.E. side of the D/FW Metroplex and so often the strings of thunderstorms are "training" right up over us. It has been raining just about every day and often two times per day. I am really thankful that we have mostly sandy loam around here and not sticky black clay, and that I put an underground drain along one side of my garden a few years back. It does concern me that so many of my tomato plants are getting yellow leaves probably from too much water as at least one of the reasons. We have had flooding in our area that washed a mobile home park away on the North side of town taking six lives tragically, as just one incident, and there are hordes of mosquitoes. The county has mentioned spraying for them with crop dusters, but it would do no good till the rains quit and then will bring howls of protests from some who would rather take their chances on getting W. Nile Virus than take normal precautions like bringing their pets inside and rinsing out their water bowls etc. for a day.

The plus side that I am very thankful for, like your mention of refiling the aquafer range from as small as, my big fig tree is absolutely loaded down, to the fact that all our local lakes are overflowing. On the stupid side, many of the cities and towns around here have not relaxed their watering bans, hoping to be able to fine someone to bring in revenue if their sprinklers happen to be going off on a day when watering is banned.

I really do not remember a spring as wet as this and know that one day soon we will miss the rain.
Bill P.

I'm happy with the rain also. I guess I picked a good year to start gardening. When I was researching gardening a few months back I was really concerned about the blistering sun, high temps and drought. I come from NC and have only experienced the last two years of Tx weather.
I actually wish we had some more bright sunny days. The brigtest spot I could find to start my garden gets sun from about 9 to 4, so if it's cloudy the first part of the day then my garden misses out. I have a lot of little green tomatoes that could use a few sunny days. Of course, I'm not complaining. I feel it's just a matter of time until it's sunny and a 100 for days in a row. I'm transplating some fall toms in a few days so they should have a good start.
Flooding hasn't been a problem since I have raised beds, but I do have a few yellowing leaves and I know my plants are getting more than enough water, maybe a little to much.
Mosquitos are horrible. I went out yesterday to spread some coffee grounds on my garden and in my compost pile and was bitten 10 times all on my feet and ankles. Next time, I'll put some shoes and socks on instead of just flip-flops.

Pete

Don't get me wrong, we really needed it seriously, but it reminds me of something that I had some years ago, kind of a joke of a log of a Texas couple that moved up north. They were thrilled with the first good snow, sitting at the breakfast table watching the beautiful big snow flakes falling, progressing on to a good covering, then picture post card scene, then on to difficulties in shoveling the drive, getting the car started, getting around, problems with the snow plow then things turning ugly and uglier.

There was a similar one about someone moving to Texas, enjoying the warm weather, sun bathing, thinking about becoming a sun worshiper till they fell asleep in the sun and baked about done, then came the heat related problems, smell of frying skin from sitting on the black leather car seats with wearing shorts, ludicrous cooling and watering bills, etc. and going down hill to ranting about how crazy someone would be to live in a part of hell called Texas.

We need all things in moderation, or at least some semblance of being reasonable. With the year being what it is, fleas and ticks were getting a good start in our big yard and begin making our dogs miserable. My dog lady is allergic to flea bites and I have an appointment to take her to the vet tomorrow. Meanwhile, my son is here for a few days with his dog and was thinking about going and buying something to treat the yard with. I had a couple of bags of Bug B Gone and a fertilizer spreader, so he treated the yard. Here is some of the of that and / or drowing from all the rain, probably both. At least they had bounced back strong from the past two years drought. Sometime we have to make some hard choices, but my troubles are miniscule compared to those that have lost lives and property.
Bill P.

Here in Tennessee we are in the middle of one of the worst droughts recorded for the state. We are 12+ inches in the deficit. In my area outside of Oak Ridge we have had 3-4 10-15 minutes of rain in the past two months. Just enough to wet the top of the ground.

In spite of the drought my garden is fantastic! My zuchinni, yellow squash, cukes, beans and peppers are coming in by the loads. My tomatoes, eggplant and okra are just about to come in. Needless to say I have had water like a demon to keep it growing.

Keep our state in mind for rain though, we need it desparately.
Dee.

Here in central Ohio, we need rain desperately. It has been over a month since we have had any measurable rainfall at all...Thankfully I love to water my garden, otherwise it would be in serious trouble. My husband teases me that I am going to drain the well....

Here in Indiana it started getting dry in May of all things! It continued dry until real rain was sent upon the earth last week. Now it is really nice.

I'm south of Houston and we have had plenty of rain this year. My garden looks like a jungle. We put up string on either side of the crowders because they are looking like pole beans which could be normal. They are taking over the yard. This is my first year to grow crowders and it looks like a bumper crop. The zucchini is trimmed back about once a week and loves it. The butterpeas have blight but don't seem to mind. I'm going to start treating them soon, if the rain will let up.

Southern Cali here: we are WAY below our norm for this season. It's been so long since it has rained, I barely remember what it looks, smells and feels like! Two years ago we hit near records for rainfall......Ma Nature sure has a way of keeping us gardeners on our toes! ;P

I wish I could send some of my rain to you folks in southern Cali who need it. My heavy clay soil could do with a week or so off!

This has been the strangest weather year! I already had a drainage problem (as in no drainage) in my heavy clay soil, and all this rain has made it a soggy mess. Remarkably, the plants have continued to grow, and it surely looks like a jungle. The entire garden is covered with mushrooms and other fungi on a daily basis. It looks like I'm gardening on some alien planet... Very weird.

I hope that Kristi in the Grandbury area and Pam in the Weatherford area are O.K. I have been hearing about high water and flooding in both areas all morning on T.V.

We have had some massive flooding problems all around the metroplex, one more 13 year old boy playing around Duck Creek in Garland was swept away and drown yesterday evening. We have had three times the normal amount of rain this month according to a weather forecaster just on. It seems to be feast or famine.
Bill P.

I'm in Abilene and it sounded like we got a deluge last night...until I read reports of central Tex getting up to 18 inches of rain in under 7 hours! That's almost a whole year's worth for Abilene except for this year when we're already there. I read that Lake Leon was 4 feet OVER the spillway and 22% above capacity! That's just amazing to me. The lakes around Abilene and westward are still a long way from being full.

As long as it keeps raining like this, I'm all for keeping the watering restrictions. People don't need to water their lawns when it's raining at least 1.5 inches every week or twice this week (so far). Good ole Wal-Mart had thier sprinklers watering the pavement last night...less than 2 days after getting 1.4 inches and a few hours before getting at least that much.

I am worried that my first ever watermelon crop is not going to have much taste if it keeps raining like this. Some are within a week maybe and definitely within 2 weeks of being ripe so I am sure this is way more water than they need, but at least they are doing better than gonefishin's drowned plant. Like someone said, we'll be praying for rain again this time next year if not by August. I'll trade having lots of mosquitos for green grass in July anyday. I am sure the cotton farmers are cursing it though. Some either had to replant or were not able to get into the field to plant b/c it never was dry enough. But the crops that did get planted should be bumpers! Ok, back to work...