We haven't gotten any rain in this bleached out yard for six weeks or so. It broke my little gardener spirit. I could hear it thundering around me. Going to the north of us, the south of us. I drove through a bunch of it the other day, only to have it stop as soon as I passed my neighborhood's stoplight.
Stupid nature and it's stupid drought.
I have to admit, the dryness really took a lot of the fun out of digging. I was constantly trying to find the balance between crazy water restrictions and the hope for a veggie patch. I had to choose between watering the lawn via home depot sprinkler once a week or watering the beds via drip irrigation hoses three times a week. The beds won, of course, but it meant the lawn - which was not vigorous in the first place - has turned to dust.
Then the water bill hit. Wow, three digits on that sucker. It's usually about $60. This is what I get to think about as I connect and disconnect seven seperate drip hoses. I have time to think about this because I still don't have a job.
And it's 95 degrees. In May.
So you can see where the fun was leeched out of gardening a bit this month.
The veggie patch may return some day, but I am finding a renewed appreciation for a totally xeriscaped front yard. Right now I'm kind of half-xeriscaped, which doesn't count. Seems like there's a lot of interest in that right now around the neighborhood. It's nice to not be alone for the next phase. More choices at home depot.
Thinking of joining me? Check out:
FloridaYards.com: Database of xeriscape plants is very helpful
Dave's Garden: Has a forum on xeriscaping, membership required (c'mon, it's $5 for two months)
Got any others you can share?
Hi Faith, Just found you on Blotanical!
ReplyDeleteWe had a crazy heat wave this weekend in the Bay Area, but it's lifted already. Re: water from the sky. Very strange year here, with lots of rain in early May. Usually it stops in March and that's it until late Fall.
Here's hoping the skies unexpectedly open and douse your plot but good! Alice