Showing posts with label drought. Show all posts
Showing posts with label drought. Show all posts

Thursday, 15 March 2012

Basking and Droughts


Jack Russel Maud: Basking
We’re all at it.
Basking.
The dogs, the chickens, the pigeons. the moorhen. Not in the same place I hasten to add –that would be a miracle. But we are all enjoying the sunshine and warmth after a few cold grey days.
But I am worried.
I love the sunshine, don’t get me wrong, it’s just that we are in a drought area and while it may be glorious today I am concerned that in a few months’ time it will look more like the Navarro Desert out there.
I am not looking forward to it. It was bad enough last year with me spending up to 3 hours a night watering the newly planted hedges and trying to keep the vegetable plot alive.
This year we already know that we have a hosepipe ban starting on April 5th – just in time for Easter.
So I am strategically planning and I can add another 10 water butts to the 8 we already have round the barn. I dread to think of the capital outlay but in order to keep my precious plants alive I think it will be worth the investment. It is going to be a lot of hard work fitting everything and then praying for a little rain.
If we don’t get the rain then I’ll just fill the butts up with water from the condenser in my drying machine the washing up bowls and of course the bath. I had better change my cleaning liquids to organic ones so my plants don’t die when I use the water.
I am trying to think ahead.
While trying to remember the Drought of 1976.
I am that old.
I do remember it being very hot. Hot all day and hot all night.
I remember having to share baths and having a plumb line which we couldn’t go over.
I remember going to the seaside.
I remember the great big cracks in the ground and everything drooping and being brown.
The ponds and rivers drying up and the dead fish.
As I said I am not looking forward to it….but damn me I am going to be prepared!

Monday, 18 July 2011

Gardeners’ Questionable Time

While it rains, sorry while the deluge swamps my garden and I cannot get out there to do anything in case I get swept away across the paddy field that was once my lawn, I can't help but ponder those eternal gardeners' questions..

Why is it that weeds grow where everything else doesn’t
Why is it that the grass IS always greener on the other side of the fence
Why is it that the more expensive the plant you buy the quicker it is to die.
Why is it that it pours with rain just after you’ve watered.
Why is it that the small courgette you leave overnight morphs into a monster the following morning.
Why is it that  however much you try to stagger your planting all your lettuces need picking at once
Why is it that the insects are always one step ahead of you
Why is it that however much you rabbit proof you garden the buggers STILL get in
Why is it that the one time you spend a fortune on hedging you get an unseasonable drought through March and April so spend two hours every day watering it
Why is it that you spend hours and hours willing you strawberries to ripen only for there to be a glut when you are on holiday
Why is it that you really hate the rain when a drough finally breaks?
Why is it that you always believe next year will be better…..

Go on you know you want to...

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