Not dry!
Since last Wednesday night we've gotten a staggering 3.46" (88 mm) of rain. I know the exact amount because Beloved and I gave ourselves a very spiffy weather station for Christmas:
It has an indoor console, too. These are the month totals, but our month began last Wednesday when Beloved got the instrument up and running. The previous storm that brought about 2.2" of rain is not included, nor is the ~1.4"+ we got in October, bringing our rain season total so far to a thrilling 7", which is more than we got the entire of last rain season. Month low temperature a frigid 41F (5 C):
The soil in the garden is even a bit muddy in places. No need to water for weeks. Tubs, buckets, and barrels are full--water for the potted patio plants and for distribution to the driest places in the garden. It appeared one of the Calylophus 'Southern Belle's had died of thirst, so I cut off the dried up dead top growth, but left the roots, just in case.
The magic rain does: it's alive!
Good timing: Leucospermum flower buds appearing. The rain will help them grow big:
Manfredas sprouting from the moistened soil, looking pretty good:
The soil is still dry deep down, so xeric plants remain happy:
The Aloe flowers have paused development, because it's been colder, wet, and grey. Sun forecast for the weekend, and they'll restart.
Leucadendron 'Wilsons Wonder' started coloring up just a few days ago. Warm cheer for nippy days:
A little more rain forecast for the rest of the week here. My tubs runneth over.
How's your weather this week?
We have a similar weather station and I love it, especially for the rain measurements.
ReplyDeleteIt's so fun to have actual rain falling that can be measured!
DeleteIt seems to be a really good weather station--enjoying it.
Same as yours! If the neighbors wouldn't think me certifiable, I'd be out dancing in it -- well, mabe not, it's also a bit cold. No matter. Its glorious! And I took this week off from work, so I can just stay home and smile, smile, smile. Happy New Year, HB. Here's hoping the current weather promises more of the same. Elizabeth
ReplyDeleteDry climate gardeners understand rain dancing. :) Glorious it is.
DeleteFlood watch for tomorrow morning through Thursday afternoon. The forecast here changed and predicts a lot more rain than the forecast did yesterday. Wheeeeeeee!
How is my weather this week? Cold and white. We got about 2" of snow overnight...
ReplyDeleteYikes! Snowzilla? Is it hitting the PNW instead of TX? Hopefully not as brutal as that was.
DeleteIt's amazing how Aloe flowers pause and start, depending on the sun showing up.
ReplyDeleteWhere are the tubs located, and how long will the stay in those spots?
The Aloe flowers will wait a little--the pollinating bees are all tucked in their hives waiting for it to warm up again.
DeleteTubs all over, under scuppers and downspout diverters. I drained several barrels this morning into the Syzygium bed. They need a lot of water after last year that was so dry.
We have the same weather station! Ours is mounted on the roof, which isn't great in my view because any problem has my husband climbing up there. Luckily, we've had only 2 problems with it in all the years we've had it - the device that records wind levels froze at one point a couple months ago and required cleaning and spiders once built webs across the cup that measures rain, impairing the rain count.
ReplyDeleteOur rain total since October 1st stands at 4.11 inches - we got just 2.05 inches since last Wednesday but I expect we'll get more starting tomorrow. Yay!
Sounds like a good one, then--we wanted something durable. The company has been around quite a while--a nice thing.
DeletePlacement--it seems to be in a calm spot as far as wind measurement goes, but an easily accessible place is an advantage. Other places would require something to mount the unit on. Trade offs, always trade offs.
I saw yesterday's bypassed the PVP/LB and went along the San Gabriels. We got .3 out of it. Next storm you might get a lot and we get nothing. It seems to even out over the course of the season.
Quite a lot forecast for tomorrow into Thursday--enjoy!
How is my weather? Hmm, we are in a record breaking cold snap. Apparently Alberta had 8 of the 10 coldest spots in the world yesterday. Hence, staying inside, puttering with my plants and reading my new books. Enjoy the rain and all the pretty flowers it brings.
ReplyDeleteAnd somewhere in Alaska they had their warmest Dec. temperature ever recorded---67F (19C).
DeleteNew books to read and indoor plants to putter with...that sounds lovely! 8 of 10 coldest spots on earth...not so much.
Here in Phoenix we had about half the amount you did but for our desert it is wonderful. My tubs runneth over too! Finally! Up in northern Arizona they got rain and snow too. So desperately needed for the forest plants and trees! What a fantastic holiday gift; the best one we could possibly have!
ReplyDeleteI saw Phoenix broke a record one day for...December I think it was? An entire inch in 24 hours. Happy to see AZ getting much-needed rain as well. The wild animals and plants need it.
DeleteYes, the best gift ever, though a box of See's chocolates comes close...
Wow, fancy system! I'm glad you got some needed rain. (Amazing plants, as always.) :)
ReplyDeleteMy flat-bottomed-straight-sided-bucket-plus-ruler rain measuring system has met the 21st century.
DeleteWe've got lots of wind and rain this week too and it's looking to continue into next week. I desperately want to get out with my camera, so I'm hoping we at least have some sunny spells.
ReplyDeleteAl the best for the new year!
Happy New Year, Nikki, and have fun photographing.
DeleteGreat gift - both the weather station and the rain!! We had snow that came right after Christmas. It's pretty much gone now, and the stunned cats have started asking to go outside again. It dipped down to the upper 20's F, but for the most part hovered around freezing. Happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteSnow, oh my. Hopefully not too much plant damage, and that the kitties have cheered up. Natasha hates rain. Boris is oblivious to it.
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