tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574540292918761182.post3955274243104640198..comments2024-03-28T01:13:28.497-07:00Comments on Late to the Garden Party: The rain keeps comingKris Petersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07097260283693156795noreply@blogger.comBlogger28125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574540292918761182.post-86387052843182235642023-02-02T17:10:03.332-08:002023-02-02T17:10:03.332-08:00Yes, as usual when heavy rains come to California,...Yes, as usual when heavy rains come to California, some areas flooded and there were mudslides in other areas, especially those that previously experienced wildfires. The only problem in my immediate area is soil erosion but that's been going on forever.Kris Petersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07097260283693156795noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574540292918761182.post-92117726517432211312023-02-02T14:40:17.301-08:002023-02-02T14:40:17.301-08:00Wonderful to have more rain than you can use (and ...Wonderful to have more rain than you can use (and not TOO much either) Diana Studerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12286066768376135880noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574540292918761182.post-60306034923424382512023-01-08T20:01:40.596-08:002023-01-08T20:01:40.596-08:00There's a lot more (475 gallons) in my tanks, ...There's a lot more (475 gallons) in my tanks, Anna, but I can't stop myself from trying to collect more even when they're full.Kris Petersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07097260283693156795noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574540292918761182.post-21724815955893524802023-01-08T13:45:43.689-08:002023-01-08T13:45:43.689-08:00Lovely to see that line up of trugs filling up Kri...Lovely to see that line up of trugs filling up Kris 😀Annahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10794392333038962798noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574540292918761182.post-28392468388898165012023-01-08T13:12:46.788-08:002023-01-08T13:12:46.788-08:00Except for some mudslides here and there, SoCal is...Except for some mudslides here and there, SoCal is doing well thus far. NorCal not so much.Kris Petersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07097260283693156795noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574540292918761182.post-14099105428870218632023-01-08T11:58:00.781-08:002023-01-08T11:58:00.781-08:00What a relief for your garden. It is pretty gnarly...What a relief for your garden. It is pretty gnarly up north of you, however. Everything in moderation! ElizaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574540292918761182.post-29475239481695143762023-01-05T19:00:51.536-08:002023-01-05T19:00:51.536-08:00SoCal is doing better than NorCal in that our rain...SoCal is doing better than NorCal in that our rainfall has been much lighter and the winds not as violent, Anna. There's some flooding down this way (like the burn areas in Santa Barbara) but the flooding and power outages are much more widespread up north, where there have also been a few deaths related to flooding and tree falls. We just discovered a leak in our "new" roof, installed in September/October 2019 during our home renovation. There's always something...Kris Petersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07097260283693156795noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574540292918761182.post-35707375378548418502023-01-05T17:57:58.592-08:002023-01-05T17:57:58.592-08:00Perhaps I'm being cynical but I think there ar...Perhaps I'm being cynical but I think there are a lot of Californians, political representatives included, that are still in denial about the impacts of climate change. Introducing water restrictions in 2015 and then lifting many of them again barely a year later after one year of decent rain, suggests that. The Los Angeles Times printed a story today emphasizing that the current streak of storms won't take us out of drought - the long-term impacts to our groundwater reserves won't be reversed in years, if not decades, for one thing - but people are already speculating. But maybe I'll enjoy a particularly colorful spring in 2023.Kris Petersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07097260283693156795noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574540292918761182.post-27543243837897494712023-01-05T17:57:14.054-08:002023-01-05T17:57:14.054-08:00I thought of you when I heard about California get...I thought of you when I heard about California getting so much rain. It must be such a nice change to see all that luxurious wet stuff come down... I only hope you are spared mudslides and other dangerous side effects. Drought is like being dehydrated. When at first you get fluids, they pretty much can't be absorbed. Reaching that sweet spot of liquid equilibrium takes a while, but I hope you get there.Anna Khttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02353084595743927603noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574540292918761182.post-56828792218060314762023-01-05T16:36:51.491-08:002023-01-05T16:36:51.491-08:00An inch of rain in one day wouldn't be unusual...An inch of rain in one day wouldn't be unusual here, but in southern California -- oh, my! When you see how quickly rain barrels and tanks fill in a good rain, it does make you wonder why this simple technology isn't in wider use. I hope you get all the benefits of good, soaking rain without any of the negative impacts. Jeanhttps://jeansgarden.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574540292918761182.post-84139280781095488132023-01-05T14:50:10.781-08:002023-01-05T14:50:10.781-08:00I'm very pleased with the rain we've had h...I'm very pleased with the rain we've had here, Jane. Southern California has been relatively unscathed (although I understand there were some evacuations of residents in former burn areas). Northern California has experienced more severe impacts, though. The Los Angeles Times made a point of commented that the recent series of rainstorms isn't going to resolve our drought, however.Kris Petersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07097260283693156795noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574540292918761182.post-68129969419060905792023-01-05T12:25:44.826-08:002023-01-05T12:25:44.826-08:00Oh goodness, what a lot of rain. Doesn’t it lift y...Oh goodness, what a lot of rain. Doesn’t it lift your spirits! I hope it isn’t destructive, although I’ve seen reports of damage in some parts of California. I wonder if the drought stranglehold on your area will break now. I wish for good rain for you Kris, but steady and healing. Your garden must be loving it! janesmudgeegardenhttps://janesmudgeegarden.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574540292918761182.post-70480639616532918742023-01-05T11:43:26.488-08:002023-01-05T11:43:26.488-08:00We just reached 7" of rain for the season to ...<br />We just reached 7" of rain for the season to date, which isn't bad, assuming that prior reports of a long dry period from February through April don't hold up. (April is generally the end of our rainy season.) The folks in Northern California are getting slammed, though. Extreme winds are a big part of the issue there - we haven't had much of that in the southern part of the state.Kris Petersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07097260283693156795noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574540292918761182.post-62391027938740294102023-01-05T11:38:57.517-08:002023-01-05T11:38:57.517-08:00I have to take another look at tanks, Elaine. The...I have to take another look at tanks, Elaine. The largest I have is a Bushman but it holds only 265 gallons and it's already as tall as will fit under the roof line of our one-story house. Adding 1 or 2 more of those behind the garage is a possibility, although it's the smallest roof surface so I'd usually be filling it manually from the overflow elsewhere. Taking out a large foundation shrub in an area at the front of the house (where a tank would still be hidden by other foliage) is another possibility, although it'd require installing an additional line of gutters, which probably wouldn't make my husband happy. We've already argued about the value of replacing my smallest tank at the back of the house with one that would only give us another 50 gallons of storage. The back and sides of the house have a lot of windows so opportunities are limited there. Kris Petersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07097260283693156795noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574540292918761182.post-79731648843672990612023-01-04T23:14:44.404-08:002023-01-04T23:14:44.404-08:00Fantastic you finally got a decent soak. Your gard...Fantastic you finally got a decent soak. Your garden - and you!- must be feeling refreshed.Horticathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16542435259445709388noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574540292918761182.post-82162344800092228042023-01-04T21:28:33.522-08:002023-01-04T21:28:33.522-08:00Rain is one of those funny events: it's eithe...Rain is one of those funny events: it's either too much or not enough. Hard to find that happy medium. There are tanks available now that are tall and narrow, a dark colour and designed to fit up against the house. They hold quite a bit of water. We can store just over 5000 gallons when all our tanks are full and it's truly discouraging how fast it gets used in the heat of the summer. luv2gardenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09883799040439283011noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574540292918761182.post-47229780911847377462023-01-04T20:07:53.862-08:002023-01-04T20:07:53.862-08:00Ha! The adage that occurred to me, Beth, was: &qu...Ha! The adage that occurred to me, Beth, was: "Be careful what you wish for." But things aren't bad here, at least not yet. It's Northern California that's getting battered.Kris Petersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07097260283693156795noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574540292918761182.post-57599374117228912002023-01-04T18:46:29.110-08:002023-01-04T18:46:29.110-08:00Gosh, the adage, "When it rains, it pours,&qu...Gosh, the adage, "When it rains, it pours," seems to fit here. I'm glad you're getting some needed rain, but I hope it doesn't do too much damage. Afterward, many of your plants will be so happy.Beth at PlantPostingshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10473637655960119672noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574540292918761182.post-55628767909064176992023-01-04T12:30:17.048-08:002023-01-04T12:30:17.048-08:00I think it's Northern California that's mo...I think it's Northern California that's more at risk than we are in Southern California, Phillip, although the foothill areas, and those that have burned in recent years are at risk of mudslides if the rain comes down too fast here. We had one "small" landslide here along the peninsula earlier in the season but that was related to slow and steady erosion, which is an ongoing problem in many of our beach areas.Kris Petersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07097260283693156795noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574540292918761182.post-41895679697709810952023-01-04T12:25:14.977-08:002023-01-04T12:25:14.977-08:00At times like this, I wish I had a spot for a real...At times like this, I wish I had a spot for a really big cistern like some of those I saw in Austin, Texas year ago, Chavli. My tanks hold a total of 475 gallons of rainwater, which isn't nearly enough to carry us through our long dry season. I'm not sure how my neighbors would feel if I parked a 1000 gallon tank along the property line at the bottom of our slope and I've run out of spaces to hide another one under the house's roof gutters but maybe I could add another one behind the garage and fill it manually from what I collect off the house's rain chain...Kris Petersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07097260283693156795noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574540292918761182.post-30367790114130639412023-01-04T12:15:19.478-08:002023-01-04T12:15:19.478-08:00The only loss I've discovered thus far was a p...The only loss I've discovered thus far was a pot that somehow plummeted from the top shelf of my lath house. The plant, a Hoya, is fine but the clay pot, a real beauty, was shattered to pieces. While we had strong wind gusts at one point, I'm suspecting a critter may be responsible rather than the storm. The soil is saturated but I'm counting on its generally sandy composition to prevent my succulents from turning to mush.Kris Petersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07097260283693156795noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574540292918761182.post-10070602658040217162023-01-04T12:08:45.956-08:002023-01-04T12:08:45.956-08:00It was raining steadily again this morning, and we...It was raining steadily again this morning, and we're socked in again. I decided to walk 2 rounds of the neighborhood early in the day on the premise that the afternoon hours will be wetter still. We've just passed the 6" mark for the water year to date so hooray for that!Kris Petersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07097260283693156795noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574540292918761182.post-72931738302559826382023-01-04T12:03:32.272-08:002023-01-04T12:03:32.272-08:00Our rain gauge got stuck for awhile too, Kathy. A...Our rain gauge got stuck for awhile too, Kathy. As what was coming off the roof didn't jive with our gauge, my husband took advantage of a dry spell and discovered that debris from our Arbutus was the problem. When he cleared the blockage, we immediately picked up half an inch, which roughly checked against the nearest public station's count. We had nearly 24" of rain one year but it was an anomaly. Our "old normal" was 15". I'm not counting on getting there this water year but I'll be happy if we pass up last year's 8" total.Kris Petersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07097260283693156795noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574540292918761182.post-72277962720390959322023-01-04T11:25:36.806-08:002023-01-04T11:25:36.806-08:00I know this is much needed, I just hope it doesn&#...I know this is much needed, I just hope it doesn't cause many problems for you.Philliphttp://phillipoliver.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574540292918761182.post-77241666859992186062023-01-04T10:05:58.968-08:002023-01-04T10:05:58.968-08:00California definitely needs more rainwater collect...California definitely needs more rainwater collection and water recycling. It's the most reasonable thing to do. Far better than the desalination option. At least you are doing your part. <br />ChavliAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com