Latest rain deluge

After the heavy rains last week, I thought for sure that all the seeds I had planted would get washed away.


But to my great surprise, they were all safe and sound even though the whole back yard got flooded.



I used recycled cardboard for the mulch between rows. I kept them in place with pebbles I found all over the seed bed.


I had dug a narrow furrow the length of the bed and put in a little peat moss, then topped it off with more after sowing the seeds.

I used the newly mad plant markers for easy identification in the fall. They are cut up blind slats with the name on the top and again on the bottom below the soil line for quick reference in the spring. There will be plenty of new plants for all come spring!

IT'S GOING TO RAIN

Was in the garden very early this morning. Heard the weather forecast before I went out!! Rain is coming. Not so good for Mia's cookout tonight (So a cook-in!?!) But the absolutely best thing for my gardens this week. As I have been working every day to catch up on weeding, cleanup, etc, I have found many plants that need to be moved or adopted out.

I am becoming very fond of living mulch, using it frequently throughout the gardens. My sedum has been growing wonderfully this season, so there's lots to move and give away. I filled the area by the Globe box and added in some sedum, which will help with the weeding problem in that area!!

As I move further away from the house with the living mulch, there is less and less weeding needing to be done on a regular basis.

So get out there and move things around the next few days. Looks like rain in the forecast for the next few days.

SOOOOO it is also a great time to get over here and take all these overgrown and runaway plants that are staring to look like fodder for my compost soon!!

Today's runaways include Obedient plant, Liatris seedlings, Rose Campion, Sedum, and 1 small Apricot Daylily, for the first person to ask for it!! Please do it through the comments, as that is the easiest way for me to see it.

So let's see how many of you can use your comment post and get yourself timed in for a chance at the lily.

Today, the power of nature

No light post today. I have several waiting to be done, but the news of the day, being so grim and so related to nature, begs my attention.

As I waited for a young mother to pick up much needed items yesterday, the weather took a turn for the worse. Mia had helped me get a small bookcase out onto the landing for the impending pickup. I thought it was a sure thing to get it outside, ready for the pickup due in about 10 minutes.

All of a sudden the skies opened up and we had a torrential downpour, which kept going and going and going. I figured my pickup would be delayed, so I got something to eat and sat in the sunroom, put the tv on and started to eat. It was about 11:45, and a weather alert was on for a tornado watch in NH.

"Oh, my, I thought, I need to call John."

My husband manages an insurance claims office here in Franklin. His company insures people all over the country. His office is responsible for all of New England except for Maine. They insure mostly farms, but also regular homeowners as well. So I alerted John to the approaching bad weather. He put the wheels in motion to alert all to the impending disaster.

Meanwhile I had to get the bookcase out of the rains - I moved it under the overhang, thinking it would stay dry -- WRONG!! The wind started blowing so hard, it was getting soaked. Mia helped me move it inside. All the wanted items got picked up safely, we all got soaked!!

So this morning I am pondering on the seemingly quixotic course nature has been taking lately.

Over the last few years there have been great shows of the power nature holds over our heads.

In looking up the word nature in my trusty dictionary/thesaurus, the following words are all used to describe various aspects of its definition: inherent quality, essential characteristics, temperament, natural instincts, environment, essence, soul, substance, universe, world, outdoors, wild, wilderness.

I really haven't thought too much about the destructive aspect of nature, as it hasn't been anything we really worry about at this time of year, here in New England.

Yes, we have hurricanes, usually later in the summer and fall. Though I well remember being days without power in the 50's and 60's when we had hurricanes that stopped our lives as we knew them, while we waited for Carol and others to pass on by.

In the winters we've had our fair share of blizzards. But for the most part the truly destructive weather was always in other places, not here in New England. In recent days there have been 2 tornadoes in New England, one in Rhode Island, which is on the southern border of Wrentham, my town! The other(s) in New Hampshire, the home of 2 of my siblings and many dear friends.

It is mind boggling, and just so hard to comprehend that this violent, destructive force has been so close to home.

Time for us New Englanders to pay attention to Mother Nature?

Enjoy this beautiful sunny clear day, as all of nature soaks up the replenishing rains from yesterday!

Woke to rain

Waking to the rain, the birds creating a symphony of blended song, the clean, freshness of the cool air, the glistening drops of rain on all things outdoors, I just love the predawn hours - no one else is up - I open the doors and windows and it's just me, the pets and nature. The sound of the gentle rain trickling down was very soothing, and the plop, plop as it fell on the doorway metal overhang, added to the rhythm of the music.
This must be what it is like in England, where they have so much rain and their gardens are so plush. I have never seen everything so green at this time of year - and I've seen alot of summers!!
Same as yesterday - I was out in the rain for 2 hours yesterday morning capturing so many photos of all that's so fresh and alive in the garden. Even caught a few bugs in the process. I am an avid bug collector - I have an extensive collection I've amassed over the years. I learned how to preserve them and have them mounted. I will take pictures at some point and include insects on this blog. So much I want to share on my blog. Hope all are enjoying their holiday weekend.