Sigh .... enviously reading about the wonderful gardens of everyone else. WE, on the other hand, are pretty much under water. This WAS the 10th wettest August on record a couple of days ago & moving up. Now, after days of downpours from T-storms that just sit overhead, I think we’re headed for #1. So far this month, we’re at 12.4”. Wednesday, my rain gauge showed 1.5”, yesterday 1.75” and thus far today, 1.5”.
So how does all this rain translate to the garden? Tomatoes are cracking, even though I’m harvesting early. The tomato vines (3 of the 4) are dying. Peppers (bell/jalapeno) are still producing - I have enough red ones for one batch of jalapeno pepper jelly & I think I’ll get at least a 2nd batch. My petunias got so soggy (blooms are mush) that I pulled them up & planted something else. On the postive side, the zinnias I planted a week ago are “up & at ‘em”, growing like weeds. There are many puddles & low places are inundated - local flooding in many areas nearby. The ground is so soggy, it’s “squishy” - cannot drive any equipment (mower being one of them) without making muddy tracks or getting stuck.
When does it end? Tomorrow (Sunday) still has am showers. Monday & Tuesday should be “drier” - Wednesday through Friday have popup showers. No real “dry” weather until next weekend. Temps are ‘cool’ .. upper 70’s, into the mid-80’s, but humidity values will be fairly high.
While I do not like to complain about rain, too much is just too much & that’s where we’re at right now. On a nature note, the rain is not stopping the birds .... the hummingbird feeders are as busy as can be & the regular feeders have birds just hunkered down, sitting on the perches, grabbing a black oil sunflower seed now & again.
I would guess that the rain means more birds are using your feeders. If the rain is turning blossoms to mush, the hummingbirds won’t have nectar to drink. And the ones that eat seeds are probably having a hard time finding any, too.
Emptied the rain gauge this morning from yesterday (Saturday) & overnight. The rain measured 3.5 inches. Rainfall is now at 14.37 inches for August. It’s misted off/on today & is quite “cool” & a bit breezy. Now, around 5, it’s raining lightly again & looks like some little showers are popping up. The grass is horrible - hope it will dry out some tomorrow so I can mow the worst parts.
The wildlife is out & about - deer, bunnies, birds, squirrels, baby lizards ... no telling what will show up next.