rain delay
It’s almost never too rainy to garden, and of course it’s never too wet to blog. But some outdoor projects have had to be put on hold temporarily.
Yesterday, when it was still dry, we started to construct a shade panel to begin to replace a patio cover we tore down last fall. Many of the plants on the patio are shade plants, and we still have some shade plants hanging in the shade of the greenhouse. As the weather warms and the sun begins to burn hotter in the sky many of the plants are starting to need some cover.
We got this far on the panel project yesterday. It’s a ten-by-four foot frame of aluminum, with an inset of perforated aluminum mesh. The diagonal cross pieces are for both structural support and what I hope will be a level of coolness.
And then it began to rain: Light mist now and then yesterday, and occasional rainsqualls this morning. Not safe weather for operating electric devices outside, but nothing to stop me from pulling some weeds and then stopping by my favorite local nursery, Walter Andersen Nursery. There was a bald spot out front and I needed a plant to fill it. One plant.
But the nursery was oozing green life force that proved irresistible and I came home with three instead: white flowering currant (Ribes indecorum), Route 66 California fuchsia (Zauschneria california ‘Route 66′) a second plant of Ceanothus ‘Tuxedo’ to go with one I purchased last year. I’ve resolved to plant at least fifty per-cent California native plants, and I think I succeeded. The first two qualify, and the last gets partial credit. (I have a post in the works describing why.)
Of course for me rainy days turn into opportunities to collect more rainwater for the prima donna bog plants that detest the water that comes from the tap. At this point I probably have several months’ supply in buckets and barrels. And the ground will hold its moisture and require minimal watering for several weeks. I wouldn’t want to force our county’s golf courses go without water, would I? (Well, yes, actually, I would. Yet another blog post…)
February 20 2010 11:07 am | Categories: gardening • my garden | Tags: collecting rainwater • rain • shade
Town Mouse on 20 Feb 2010 at 1:25 pm #
Ha! They’d promised us rain, and we never got it. And now it doesn’t even look that good for the next week. At least we know where the rain went now…
Actually, it was good to have a break so there will be no mudslides and similar unpleasantness. But I’m ready for more rain in March!
Nice plants. I have, so far, held back. But I agree, it’s tempting.
Noelle/azplantlady on 20 Feb 2010 at 3:23 pm #
Okay, I just love that you are someone after my own heart. I can never come home with only one plant ;^) The rain that just left you is now falling here in AZ.
Pomona Belvedere on 20 Feb 2010 at 4:41 pm #
Isn’t it amazing how innocence can last? I still believe I can go to a nursery and buy just one or two things, things I’ve already decided on. I don’t think I have actually done that more than once or twice.
I’ll be interested to see why ‘Tuxedo’ceanothus is only partly native — I’m a big fan of the huge incestuous ceanothus family, not that I can keep them all straight.
With you on the golf courses. I heard a couple of years ago that they’re starting to do “dryland” golf courses in western states, and some golfers regard them as more of a challenge. May their tribe increase.
Jean on 21 Feb 2010 at 4:35 pm #
James, Do you think any gardener ever went to a nursery and came home with just one plant? (If so, it certainly wasn’t me!
) –Jean
ricki - sprig to twig on 23 Feb 2010 at 11:59 am #
“Coolness” in every sense of the work, I would say.
tina on 25 Feb 2010 at 7:25 pm #
Good deal on saving up that water as it would be such a shame to see a golf course turn yellow and brown-such a hardship-truly. Not!:)
Wendy on 26 Feb 2010 at 9:04 pm #
The shade panel looks great so far! What a great place to relax.
Barbara on 27 Feb 2010 at 5:43 pm #
I love the shade structure. Very cool, indeed. And you got home with only three plants — you have much more restraint than me!