Rain Update
The official recorded rainfall yesterday in Indianapolis was 2.2 inches, but in my own rain gauge, I measured closer to 3 inches of rain. The 2.2 inches set a new record for rain on August 20th, the old record was 1.63 inches set in 1924.
It would have been nice to have spread the rain out over the entire day instead of a few hours late in the afternoon, but I am not complaining. I am very happy to have the rain, even all at once. Happy, happy, happy.
Forsythia Update
Before yesterday’s rain, I had decided that the only way I was going to get rid of those non-blooming forsythia pictured above was to practice gardening time management. Insteading of finding an entire day with nothing to do and spending it cutting these shrubs out all at once, I am cutting them out fifteen minutes at a time, which is how much time it takes to fill one bag with a bunch of forsythia branches.
I started on Sunday, filling one bag, and then filled another bag this evening. However, now that it has rained, I should probably do some weeding, while the weeding is easy, instead of cutting out this forysthia.
Yes, I still plan to shred up all the forsythia branches. However, shredding all this up is going to take more than fifteen minutes so putting the branches in bags for now just makes it easier to move them around and contain them until I find a block of time to do the shredding.
It’s Healthy to Get Dirty and Other Health Benefits of Gardening.
I did a little blog-hopping this evening and ended up reading about how getting dirty leads to well-being. I also noted that Carolyn Gail posted about how you can stay in shape by weeding and gardening.
I’m telling you, this gardening is a good thing and has so many benefits, I’m going to keep doing it! I’m in it for the long haul.
How about you other garden bloggers, are you going to stick with this gardening, too?
Hey Neighbor,
I know how you feel ! We love the rain, too, but 24 hours later, it’s pretty much too much.
We are in it for the long haul because we are passionate gardeners, Carol !
We got 5 1/2 inches in about 12 hours. It was very wet, lots of low water crossings flooded. One guy drove through one and was killed.
I’m into gardening for the long haul. My first flower bed was when I was 9, the only time I didn’t have a garden was when I was living in the dorm in Fairbanks going to university. At this point, I can’t imagine life without a garden. 45 years with one 4 year vacation and counting.
I just have to say I blogged about the health benefits of dirt too — on April 19 Rx Go play in the dirt.
The nice thing about your approach to the forsythia is sometimes that style of garden time management gets it done sooner than one thinks.
I often find that after two or three sessions in the prescribed method that I suddenly motivated to finish the whole project.
Congratulations on your rain, Carol. We are 8 inches below normal for the year. After no rain since July 27, we had a shower yesterday! No measurable rain, though, as it evaporated immediately. HA!
I feel better when I’m crawling around on my hands and knees around the pond in the evening. I like dirt.
We also got 3 glorious inches of rain! I feel revived, and ready to start weeding. Now all I ask is for a little cooler temperatures.
I don’t intend to stop gardening anytime soon. It’s in my blood, (and under my fingernails!)
Carol, we have gotten over 8 inches of rain since Saturday AM, and it is raining again right now. This is the wettest August I can remember.
Carolyn Gail… Yes, we are definitely gardening for the long haul.
Healingmagichands… I’ll have to go check out your post about the health benefits of dirt.
Me… I agree!
Vonlafin…The rain was refreshing and gets me going back out to the garden, too, especially now that there is something to do besides watering.
Iowa Gardening Woman… that is a lot of rain, a LOT of rain!
Thanks all for the comments!
Carol at May Dreams Gardens
Lot’s of rain in Northern Illinois, but can’t complain. I see what’s happened in Kenosha and Ohio. yikes…!
Mary… I like the “dirt” part of gardening, too, but don’t tell anyone! Sorry you are the only who doesn’t seem to have any rain now.
Sissy… I know what you mean, I won’t complain because it could be worse!
It appears from the comments at Our Little Acre that both Kylee and Blackswamp Girl’s family have experienced flood related problems, Carol – it was too much, too fast.
I like the 15 minute garden work idea, but am not sure I could stop that fast once I started.
Annie at the Transplantable Rose
Annie in Austin… Yes, they went from too dry to floods, how terrible for them.
The 15 minutes is kind of a mind game… I usually don’t stop after the 1st 15 minutes, it just gets me started to think about the task at hand in small increments of time.
Carol at May Dreams Gardens