Common Ground – The Drought of Early Summer

©DeborahCarew

©DeborahCarew – Nasturtiums

Here on the Ganaraska Savannah, the drought continues. We have had barely an hour of rain in the past month. Out on the brown and dry front lawn the domestic version of the African wild cat is so well camouflaged that he easily disappears.

Watering both flower and vegetable gardens has been a constant this year. Most of my vegetables are mulched with maple leaves (best mulch ever and absolutely free) so I can get away with watering every other day. Without the help of many bags of Millbrook maple leaves I wouldn’t have much of a garden. Conserving every little bit of moisture is critical this year. A little planning ahead and picking up all those bags of leaves last fall has made life a lot easier. As that great gardener, James Brown, once said if you’re ready then you don’t have to get ready.

I am waving the white flag of surrender in this year’s battle with the chipmunks. All varieties of tulips, both species and hybrid are gone. The well-thumbed bulb catalogues are on the coffee table. What to do but carry on and hope for better luck next year? I am guessing that this is how all those bulb producers stay in business.

The toad continues to occupy the lettuce planter. Not for him the Lee Valley terra cotta toad house. I am so glad I didn’t waste money on one of those.

I’m not sure what the rest of the summer will bring us in terms of rainfall. Or if those long range forecasts are ever accurate. So I will continue to mulch and water and develop the upper body strength of Wonder Woman. Maybe the rain gods will decide to give us a break. One can only hope.

By Jill Williams

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