Monday, June 19, 2006














rainy days and mondays....

There is a saying in Atlanta that if you don't like the weather, wait five minutes because it will change. The exception to that is the summer.... and Atlanta summers usually start in June. We can easily go for many weeks with temperatures in the high 80's and 90's, with no rain to wash off the heat, or grace the flowers with a nice shower of water. As I gaze out the window this Monday night, I've been hoping for a nice belly-gusher to salvage the remnants of my once green grass. It seems that this, once again, was only a rumor.... rain seems to be in the forecast, but the overcast sky is not relinquishing any clemency.

Once again, I will have to play the "rotating the sprinkler" game with the lawn after 8PM, in hopes that the grass will respond to the little I can do for it in these hot times, without running my water bill up to exceed the national debt. City water is not cheap, my bill can run anywhere over $100.00 to $140.00 a month. Even the critters are sputtering and coughing in the yard in hopes of finding a free drop somewhere. No matter how much I fill up the bird baths (everyday), they are empty by the next night. It wouldn't be so bad if we could just water our lawns, but the state is under a water restriction siege. My county has taken the restriction further than the rest of the state by declaring that we can water freely between the hours of 8PM and 5AM, rotating every other day.... and no watering AT ALL on Fridays. If caught, you proceed into a series of fine schedules. The first offense is a warning. The second, a monetary fine you must pay to the city; and the third, your water is turned off at the street so that nothing gets into your home.

For a gardener, this is a nightmare... but I am fortunate that the neighbors are understanding. So far, no one has turned me in to the water company when I sneak around behind the bushes to water the beds that are filled with sagging and gasping flowers. Even the bushes are beginning to wane from their former glory, and the hydrangea bush I usually hide behind, managed to grab my arm the other day to beg for anything I could spare. Oh the pain I felt when I saw her long leaf arms sprouting big blue flowers laying flat to the ground in the dust. The once former grass that surrounded the bush was now nothing but Georgia red clay and pock marks, where squirrels and chipmunks had dug for any acorns that might have fallen off the giant oak tree in my backyard. What's truly sad is that the neighbors hydrangea bushes have net-worked with my own, and tugged further at my weak heart. There is no way I can bypass this beautiful purple flowered queen without leaving her a nice long drink of water.

So if you are experiencing an over-abundance of rain... feel free to wish it over to my little corner of the Earth for a day or two.... we could really use it here!

19 Comments:

Blogger mckay said...

awh, your poor hydrangea! it's one of my favorite plants. i'm trying to coax one from a baby into puberty; but as kids can be, it's a bit of a struggle.

i wish rain (not torrents) upon you. as a scott, who's family thought they once were irish, may i give you a bit of an irish blessing?
...may the rain fall softly upon your fields...

10:47 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hmmm, i hear TX and Louisiana are raining today, maybe some will drift your way!

12:05 AM  
Blogger Snaggle Tooth said...

How depressing watching the blossoms flop! Also, seems ya have a water bill up to par with my monthly electric cost here...
Have ya tried a good, old-fasioned, Native rain-dance?
- It worked for Gilligan! We're haveing quik n windy t-storms right now. Not much rain with this round.

4:42 AM  
Blogger awareness said...

Hello fellow gardener.

Last night I fell asleep to the sound of the rain. Just due north of you, we have had the wettest month of June on record. My Iris and Lupins and Peonies went to soggy mush, but the rest of the garden thrived..........it seems that most things are blooming early this year (and bigger).

So, I will do Maritime jig for you and sing a little rain song and ask the heavens to move along......to open up above Georgia.

It's almost strawberry season here....my all time favourite thing to eat. If the sun doesn't start shining for more than a day at a time, they too will go to mush. Can't have that!

Good luck sneaking around caring for your garden........:)

5:10 AM  
Blogger Kelly said...

I feel your pain, we have been in the high 90's and have already had a couple 100 degree days. Can the rain hit Cenral TX too?

10:00 AM  
Blogger X said...

That sucks you have to pay for water. Luckily, we don't have to over here....because I'm Captain Water the Flowers and Take Long Showers Sometimes, lol. :) I love rain and hope you get some for your lawn/garden's sake!

12:11 PM  
Blogger Skye said...

Did you say you need some rain? Sister Skye to the rescue, LOL! Will get right on it asap. :)

1:11 PM  
Blogger Ellen said...

mckay~
Those hydrangeas are thristy little buggers when little, but oh so worth the effort when they get big. Have you ever seen a prettier bush that blooms all summer long?
Thanks for the blessing! I hope it works. Today... still no rain, and none in the forecast for many days.

************

bar~
I'm hoping that the lower Texas and Louisiana winds will blow the rains over... it would be so nice!
We are used to getting their storms from the hurricanes, so fingers crossed! Thanks!

************

snaggle~
It is depressing, especially when I think how much time and money I've put into the yard to look nice.
My electric bill matches my water bill this time of year because Chris insists on having the air on in the house. I can take it or leave it... mostly leave it as the constant in and out from hot to cold gives me headaches; too much temp change in too short a time. I'd rather use fans.
No raindance yet, but I am keeping my "snaggle" garden spot alive and well, and it is finally beginning to thrive. Of course, it is the easiest spot to water as it's right next to the front door.
If I ever figure out how to work the new digi camera, I'll take a picture for you!

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awareness~
Isn't it strange how one area gets too much rain, and another gets
none? We almost had a good hint of it when Alberto passed by, but it was too south of Atlanta to have any effect on us.
I have wild strawberries that grow all around my yard. They make good food for all the critters who travel through, but are not good for human consumption.
No room in my yard to have any real veggie garden. I have a culvert that splits my backyard in half that the previous owner layered with ivy. Right now, that's the only thing that's thriving... but even ivy has its
limits. When we moved in, we planted a cherry tree, numerous azalias, hydrangeas, iris', a rose bush, hostas and liriope as borders. Now the house stays cool from all the shade protection.
Just keeping my fingers crossed that the maples hold up through the tornado winds when they amble through.
Thanks for the jig... I hope it works!

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myutopia~
I feel your pain and will put in a good word for you if the rain ever makes it this way, I promise!

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K.~
Yeah, there isn't too much I don't pay for... and nothing's cheap these days. I almost am considering moving a little further out of the city and into a house that has well water. The people who have wells only pay about $7.00 a month for service... can you imagine that? Oh well, there's a reason they call houses "money pits"!
Thanks for the well wishes about our rain dilemma!

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ej~
What... You actually have some sunny days there? Well that is nice considering the UK is more known for their rainy days. Hmmmm.... makes me wonder about that whole global warming theory a little more in depth. It seems like everybodys weather is not running normal, which supports the theory. Glad you are getting some sunshine though!

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skye~
MY HERO! Your are too funny, and I really needed the laugh... many thanks!

1:43 PM  
Blogger awareness said...

Hi there.

As I drove home tonight from work, I noticed a small fruit stand temporarily hoisted up at the end of my street. The sign at the stand read "STRAWBERRIES." Guess what I had for dinner?? :)

About an hour ago, the grey clouds blew in, the thunder started rolling and the lightening did it's dance along my River.........yes the heavens opened up again and poured it's heart out. I guess I did the wrong dance.

I'll try again tomorrow.

Cheers!

9:10 PM  
Blogger Neo said...

Ellen - Yup, it's baking weather! It's been hot as hell up here in Philly too. I'm dreading the A/C bill when it comes in.

You should talk to Houston Texas, I think they've definitely gotten more than their fare share. Then look at those fires in Arizona.

The weather has been really freaky lately.

Good luck with the green. ;)

Peace & Hugs,

- Neo

9:38 PM  
Blogger wes said...

You can have our rain, it rained all day today, and is rained last week, and its supposed to rain again this week, its never ending. I haven't even been able to cut the grass because it has been raining so much. :)

12:32 AM  
Blogger Ellen said...

awareness~
We've been told there's a possibility of rain "maybe" this week.... but I've heard that enough times. I won't believe it till I see wet pavement.
In the meantine, my neighbor has asked me to water his flowers for a few weeks, as he's going out of town. This ought to be interesting!

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neo~
Hot as Hades here... temps in the high 90's, and humidity to match. I'm like you... the electric bill is one I dread because I know it's off the charts. I waited all day to turn on the AC yesterday, and finally broke down because it was too darn hot.
As far as the gress... it is now officially brown. But then everybody elses is brown too.. except for the controlled communities who have the built-in sprinkler systems. Oh well, I did try!

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wes~
Feel free to send any over this way, we sure could use it. It is now over 3 weeks without a drop, and I can see the lake levels lowering. Boats are to the point of being dry-docked tied to their piers, even though they are sitting in what used to be the lake.
Oh what I wouldn't do to be able to mow the lawn.... one of my favorite chores, honestly!

6:24 AM  
Blogger Milk Brain said...

i'm curious if the water ban is in effect for those who have veggie gardens as well. i know up here that if there's a water ban people who have veggie gardens can water them as much as they need to b/c it's food. maybe you should throw some tomatoes in there.

6:25 AM  
Blogger Saur♥Kraut said...

Yeah, Fl and GA are both going through all that. I was sad we were going through a drought until I found out that I have a leak in my foundation. Now I'm happy there's a lotta sun until I get that fixed! My study carpet's damp. Ewww.

9:36 AM  
Blogger Ellen said...

mb~
I'm not sure about veggie gardens, but do know that people who have laid new sod in their yards get a one month exemption. (Like anyone is really counting, huh?)
Still no rain today, temps reached near 100 degrees, and it was really hot! My plants were all flattened against the ground, even though I watered them thoroughly yesterday morning (on the lam again).

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saur~
I thought you were getting rain, and didn't know the state of Florida was suffering. Lucky for you the ocean breezes are close in order to get some sort of cool off. The heat and humidity is so thick here, you can literally cut it with a knife.
By the way, interesting little fact that came over the radio this morning: We had a "leaky" valve up here at the lake, and lost 22 BILLION gallons of water that flowed all the way down to Florida via Chattahoochee river. Needless to say, the GOV of the state was not too happy about that.

9:05 PM  
Blogger Snaggle Tooth said...

It's a shame all the rain (10 inches) we got flooded with a couple weeks back couldn't've been saved n diverted down there somehow... that other local flood here was another 6 inches we didn't need. Now this week-end is forecast to be all rain again!

Too much on some n none on the other-

(n I didn't even dance!) Don't fruit trees qualify as food crop plants deserving ban exemption?

I'll pray your plants get enough water n spring back up for you

11:41 PM  
Blogger Lee Ann said...

It is just so HOT lately...what's a person to do!

12:29 AM  
Blogger Ellen said...

snaggle~
My thoughts about the diversion also....if only. Houston and the Northeast have their hands full with all the rain and floods, and the Southeast is drought-ridden.

Not sure about the fruit trees, but think you have to be a real farmer to qualify. Since the little debacle over the leaky valve at the lake (which lost us 2 billion gallons of water), the state has gone on further restrictions. Now I have to be real sneaky. I remember once a few years ago that we could use our "used" bath water to water our gardens... but who would know the difference? Fingers crossed that the heat will be too much and the skies will break open soon!

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lee ann~
We are like two peas in a pod when it comes to our weather, aren't we?
Usually our weather systems come from your direction, but it looks like no rain in sight for you either. Keep cool... I really feel for you!

11:18 AM  
Blogger Neo said...

Ellen - Oh I hear ya! This next week is supposed to be filled with Thunderstorms. Hopefully that helps cool everything off. I think I'll go outside and run around in the rain when it starts!

Peace & Hugs,

- Neo

6:25 PM  

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