weather in the garden # 140!

Hamilton has a Water Ban every summer since I can remember & we have lived here since 1973. No outside sprinkler & no washing cars etc. We do have a soaker hose system in the iris beds which we can use, but this dry year DH has not run them feeling we must protect the water systems. Ipswich river shows no water, just mud. It has a slow flow normally. We have watered new plantings by watering cans. It is annoying that the next town north of us is 'considering' a water ban. Where do they think the water comes from? The same acquifer as us. I feel sorry for Bill & his J. maples. Irises can stand the dryness better, but we have lost some dwarf irises which usually do pretty well.

This message was edited Sep 9, 2016 10:03 PM

Yesterday, took the dog for a walk along a brook near my house....not much water in the brook, but a bear was in there enjoying the small amount of water....

Perhaps our problem isn't quite as bad as it is in Hamilton. The iris plants are rather OK. People are telling me that the Quabbin Reservoir that feeds our water system is doing OK in the drought. Just north of us, the town of Woburn has a ban, though.

Today while transplanting some new epimediums I found some moisture in some of the shady areas where lots of good soil had been thoughtfully dropped (what's wrong with self-promotion). Every night our deck has been a little wet but it gets sunny by late afternoon usually.

FM, I knew I'd heard that moniker before! What fun. I like some edgy types of plants too, but it still doesn't come off as Adams Family-like. It just contrasts or tames my enthusiastic application of color.

76° It hasn't rained but the clouds seem like they are holding moisture. Much less humid than yesterday. the Quabbin system is quite different than ours.

"Tut-tut, looks like rain," says my spouse. (Yeah, we never did get over children's books here.....) Wind, too....[ETA] and, mere minutes later, the sun is so strong it sets the little solar fountain going. hrmph.

The Quabbin/Wachusett system is just so big that supply doesn't change much over a season. Oddly, because of history/politics/lordknowswhatall one town might be in that system while one right next door might be using its own aquifer supply; some have access to both the big system and their own independent supplies. Ahh, New England.

Of course it may just seem strange to me as a native Chicagoan (everybody drinks Lake Michigan and the streets and numbering system are the same for miles in all directions).

This message was edited Sep 11, 2016 11:00 AM

Welcome to 'quaint' New England! May have showers on Wed. Not holding my breath.

58° going to low 80s. How's that for 'wait a minute'? Grew up north of Milwaukee so full of Lake Michigan water for 20 years.

Ah, Milwaukee! Also a grid, with a reliable north/south coastline.

Is it inconsistent to like tidy streets and buildings, but prefer messy, irregular gardens?

Thank you for the welcome, rdog. I appreciate the quaintness, actually, and have very little to complain of....

Another glorious, sunny, low humidity day.....the town swept off the chip seal this morning, so now I can open my windows & enjoy the fresh air! Glad you like it here, FM!

I don't weigh in here a lot - since I'm down in sunny central KY - but I notice postings from time to time that stir a memory or make a connection.

irisMA noted a Wisconsin connection from north of Milwaukee. I have roots north of Milwaukee, my dad hailing from Kewaunee with quite a few relatives still up there in Kewaunee County and surrounds. Small world...

80 today much cooler tomorrow. Fine with me. the rain missed us.

Yeah, I went out at the end of the day, looked at all the dark clouds, then looked at the weather report (30% chance, but less than a tenth of an inch even if it does rain) and went ahead and watered the container plants.

I also fill the birdbaths and the little fountain--and sometimes, like this morning, the water level goes way down overnight. Poor thirsty critters!

Some towns in CT had heavy showers yesterday....my town had not a drop!

no rain here either 78°

Had a very short shower here....more rain is supposed to be coming.....

slight rain 3" further north. No fair!

Some rain here....but not enough.....needs to rain every other day for a month.....

about 1/8 of an inch of rain here. We needed more than that. I see Bill had 1 inch plus. Good for his trees.

Iris, do you know the amount from observation or NWS info? Farther down the coast, I *think* we had a decent amount yesterday--there was light but steady rain for a couple of hours. A big relief all round.

And today, mists, like there should be in fall!

Pepperell is a pretty large town. Not sure if my abode got all that rain.

We measured it in our garden. When DH & our daughter were weeding yesterday, they noticed that irises which had grass in the beds were in better shape. Grass evidently holding the moisture. I hope your trees got some of the rain, Bill. More rain coming Fri. 'scattered showers' as usual.

73° sunny rain tomorrow? I am not holding my breath.

Same forecast here.....cold air is moving in.....will feel strange!

You all may wish to begin a new thread, with the change in the weather. This one has had a good six month run.

Received some much need rain last night!

Here, too! About time.....

61° about a quarter inch of rain fell overnight. It was good to listen to.

Gloomy days ahead....just wish it would rain, & then clouds can move on!

In the mid 50s here. fine with me. Overcast & gloomy. We are supposed to have rain Fri. & Sat. Hope so.

Sun is out today....I thought we were supposed to get rain....

In the 50s all day varies between overcast & partly cloudy. Some rain forecast for tomorrow. Hope so.

thought rain was moving in tonight and for most of the day tomorrow. just planted some grass seen so hope so.

Still waiting for the rain here....guess it will ruin the weekend instead!

no rain so far. Into the 50s all day.

Rain during the night & this morning as well.....more to come....just hope it's not the hurricane coming!

just a constant drizzle here.

We had a rain. Hope more tonight or on Tues. temperature in the mid 50s.

Nothing today but dreary grey skies!

My weather pattern sounds more like Bill's. Some rain overnight lately and then overcast during the day times. The yard is actually soggy for a change. I hope rain comes to the rest of the gardens.

over the weekend with 2 days of rain we have just over an inch of rain A gentle rain, not a hard windy time. So glad to get it.