skip to main content

Rain, Rain, Rain!

11 years ago

I am in heaven - it has rained over 4 inches here in the last 3 weeks (first rain since last April), and my garden is so happy! It was supposed to rain starting late this evening, but I woke up this morning to it pouring! Yay! This is normal for us, but each time it happens it seems I am surprised. Last year it hardly rained at all until late Jan/Feb, and it was awful. Most people would not complain about a bright, sunny Winter with temps in the 50s - 70s, but I sure did!

We do get a couple of days without rain in between storms, and I have been going into the garden to weed - but only where I can reach stuff while staying on the patio or driveway or sidewalk - the beds are much too wet. The weeds just come up like they were in butter - it is wonderful. I even got ambitious the other day and attacked a huge tangle of Buff Beauty, Cl Iceberg, and some giant climber I don't know the name of that is growing on our fence. They had all decided to intermingle, which looked great last Spring, but now they were in danger of pulling down the old fence (one of them had leaped over it and was planning on eating my neighbor's garage), and there was dead growth I couldn't get at because of the tangle. So, now they look bare and separate. I fed and mulched them, and in our climate I'll bet they start setting buds again in a couple of weeks.

I love this time of year - in our climate it is sort of like Spring - the rains come back, and everything starts growing and blooming. My narcissus are up and starting to bloom.

Jackie

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (6)

ingrid_vc so. CA zone 9
11 years ago
Jackie,I'm so envious. We've had a few sprinkles but nothing like the continued rain that makes roses happy and burst into leaf and bloom. I hope that will happen later but it's always an iffy proposition, even more so now with the change in climate patterns. I need to put four more roses and two cypresses in the ground and rain would give them a great start. I'll keep my fingers crossed!

Ingrid
seil zone 6b MI
11 years ago
Good news, Jackie! I hope everyone gets some needed rain soon.
Related Discussions
Rain, rain, rain, and more rain!
Q
Comments (8)
Well, lucky you, Glenda! As Carol said, we got a little dribble from Mother Nature the other day, but nothing much. Sure hope we get some more this winter. We need it, our trees and shrubs need it.
...See More
rain, rain, rain, is that enough letters?
Q
Comments (14)
Thanks Sherry. I moved Jamaican Me Crazy a few years ago, it was be side Jamaican Music and not doing well after 3 or 4 years. It has become one of my better plants since I moved it. Hope the same thing will happen with JM. The wind was nasty, was' t it Debra. We lost another cursed Bradford pear., I understand a lot of trees are down in the area. I hear that we will miss the worst of it today, which may be more your way. Thank you Kate!
...See More
Rain Rain Rain......will you ever stop?
Q
Comments (21)
In georgia we was without rain for over 3 weeks with highs reaching the mid 90's. All fescue lawns I seen was drying out and turning brown, My bermuda looked great with a couple of stress areas(areas that stayed in the sun the longest), But the last 5 days we have gotten over 7 inches of rain. The bermuda is a dark green/bluish color(Looks great). Ill take a pic this evening
...See More
Rain, rain, rain ... pics from my patio ...
Q
Comments (18)
That is a non poisonous checkered garter snake. These aren't the kind that give you coronaries. You can pick him up and all he will do is piss on you. Some of these guys come with pretty colors on them and get much larger. They are right down in the center of town too. I had them in my yard when I lived on Deep Eddy 2 blocks from the river. I had a 6' rat snake down there that made me take a deep breath. And an even larger Brown snake that I found wrapped in a tree branch by my path. It made the tree so exotic all of a sudden in a Adam & Eve way. I am surprised you never saw them in Vegas. Every other city I haver been in out that way like Phoenix Tucson Santa fe Albuquerque had LOTS of snakes and they all seemed able to send me to the hospital. In 40 years that I have lived in Austin area I have only had 1 run in with a Rattlesnake in my garden and that had a good ending for both of us.
...See More
jerijen
11 years ago
Like Ingrid, I am envious.

We got just under .5-in., from the system just past. We need a lot more.

What worries me is that, when our area gets any rain to speak of in November, we often get no more decent rain much after Dec. 1. It slips as far south as Jackie's Bay Area, and is blocked from SoCal by stubborn high-pressure systems, camped over Four Corners.

I hope this isn't one of those years.

Jeri
Kippy
11 years ago
We loved the rain here too! The garden and orchard looks so much happier and clean.

Our rain gauge put us at over 1.5 inches. I wish we had more rain coming this week. But looks like the 10 day forecast is clear.
harmonyp
11 years ago
I'm in heaven. Haven't had to hand water in over a week now, and we had a marvelous soaking last night so I'm good for at least another 1/2 week if we don't get any more. This area of California is so funny - it's like living in a desert all summer - everything not watered (except for a few really annoying and very large weeds - star thistle, tar weed, tumbleweeds...) is brown and dry and dead. Now the entire property is bright green, and looks (and smells) so beautiful. The roses which really suffer in our summers are at peace, perhaps not pushing out many blooms, but vigorous, healthy, with still enough blooms for me to make at least one solid bouquet every day. And the areas that stretch for sunlight through thick decidious tree coverage are getting their first full sun of the year, as the leaves are rapidly dropping, covering the ground in free mulch. It is such a serene time. I'm so happy to have a 4 day weekend coming up to spend outside in this beauty.
nanadollZ7 SWIdaho
11 years ago
I am happy for all of you receiving rain (here in the desert, we are, too, in our typical hundredths of an inch spurts). I just read some disheartening news. After several weeks of improving conditions in the U.S. drought, things have gotten worse again with Kansas the hardest hit of all. About 4% more of that state's drought stricken acreage has been moved up to the most dire level designation. We're thinking of you, Kansas rose people, and wishing for you a wet winter (and for all those winter wheat growers, too). Diane

Related Stories

LANDSCAPE DESIGN 5 Steps to Selecting the Right Plants for a Rain Garden

By Falon Mihalic

A simplified look at selecting plants for a rain garden

GREEN BUILDING Just Add Water: Rain Barrel Magic

By Marianne Lipanovich

Take your rainwater storage from practical to beautiful with a new breed of design-friendly rain barrels

LANDSCAPE DESIGN How to Site and Size a Rain Garden for Your Landscape

By Falon Mihalic

Installing a rain garden is an excellent way to reduce runoff and return water to its source

LANDSCAPE DESIGN How to Shape a Rain Garden and Create the Right Soil for It

By Falon Mihalic

Learn how to grade, lay out and amend the soil in your rain garden to support your plants

LANDSCAPE DESIGN How to Design a Rain Garden That Loves Stormy Weather

By Falon Mihalic

Rain gardens have a special type of planting bed that drains rainwater. These tips can keep yours looking great

GARDENING GUIDES Protect a Precious Resource With a Rain Garden

By Bruce Parker

Promote pure water and a beautiful landscape with a garden design that makes the most of the rain

THE ART OF ARCHITECTURE Architect's Toolbox: Rain Screens Up House Health

By Bud Dietrich, AIA

To thwart unwanted moisture and poor air quality in your home, think rain screens and drainage planes

GARDENING AND LANDSCAPING Permeable Paving Soaks Up Rain

By Lauren Bonar Swezey

Design garden hardscaping that allows rain to penetrate through to the earth below

GREEN BUILDING Modern Design Captures Valuable Rain

Instead of letting a precious natural resource trickle away, these architectural features make the most of it

HOUZZ TV Houzz TV: How to Install a Rain Barrel

By Annie Thornton

This DIY tutorial shows how easy it can be to capture rainwater from your roof to use in your garden later

Sponsored

More Discussions

“Body bag” Roses

42

Anyone get their plants from Grace Rose Farm yet?

201

Is this pesticide damage?

8

My NC Garden 2024

14

My Container Roses in GA Spring 2024

7