This summer, it seems the weather forecast is always wrong. Friday was 110. This weekend was supposed to hover near the century mark. Instead, someone ordered up a breeze and clouds. Rainless clouds. But clouds, nevertheless. We have been surfing temperature waves all summer. Peaks and dips. They are taking their toll on the garden.
The USDA declared a drought disaster for California, now listed as being in “exceptional drought.” Fires are breaking out everywhere. The forecast calls for a warmer than normal September through November. While our friends in the east endure soggy – we sizzle. And pray for rain.
In my favorite public gardens, you will find casualties of city-imposed water cutbacks.
Brown is the new green.
In our Memorial Garden, we have reduced our water use by nearly half.
We’re fortunate to have established trees to provide more shade…for the plants – and the dogs!
The soil contains a good amount of clay to hold the moisture in…and drought tolerant plants combined with heavy mulching have kept the losses to a minimum.
In sharp contrast to the brown, dry dog walking paths at Homeward Bound –
is this strange sight: the lush green of flooded rice fields which surround us.
Don’t ask me to speak with authority on this embarrassment of riches. Apparently, if you are a farmer high enough on the water rights ladder, you have the option of paying dearly for the water you use (up to ten times the usual rate) or letting your fields go fallow and selling your rights to someone else.
Those that are less fortunate are on long waiting lists to dig ever deeper wells – hoping and praying that the ground water will be replenished this winter with rain. If not – we are all in a world of hurt.
“When one tugs at a single thing in nature, he finds it attached to the rest of the world.” ~ John Muir
Brown is beautiful and all of that. But please send rain.
Gardens For Goldens 