I’m not sure of the exact number of rain free days we’ve had here since May, but I know the number is low. Like really really low. Let me tell you about this past week. We had a sunny day or two at the beginning of the week, I think Monday and Tuesday. I think it rained Wednesday. Thursday either rained or looked like it was going to rain. Friday the clouds parted, angels sang and the sun shone. You could hear lawn mowers and weed trimmers fire up through the neighborhood.
Saturday – more rain. Today? More rain. The forecast called for rain most of the day but only partly cloudy for 3 hours – from 5 am to 8 am.
I slept until 7.
Honestly there is not a spot in my yard that isn’t soggy and spongy. There is so much left to plant! Outside projects are impossible if it takes more than a couple of hours. Wash windows? Nope. Hang out laundry? Hardly but I did hang a couple of loads out at 6 am one Saturday so it would dry in time for the rain expected by noon.
Never the less, I persisted! On Friday I spread two more loads of compost. The last load was a very generous yard (it was way more than a yard) and I am done spreading compost for this year.
The Back Yard
The goal is to rehabilitate this scruffy back yard. You can see the chain-link fence with a bunch of maple trees growing through it. I can’t afford to have the trees removed let alone replace the fence, so I have to make it work. You can see where I’ve run wire for the pet-fence to keep the dogs contained. Neither are wanderers, but the Shepherd does want to do what Shepherds do and protect the yard. That behavior absolutely must be contained to our yard.
The entire yard is clay, but it is more of a problem in the back yard than anywhere else. There’s a significant slope to the yard, watering can be difficult because the water just wants to run down hill. Hopefully the thick layer of compost will help to absorb some of the water on it’s way through.
The plan is to grow a hedge. All of my research says that Yew is the best option for this location. It will tolerate shade and prefers things a little dry. Well-drained we can’t do but I’ve got dry covered – if it ever stops raining.
Nothing planted in this photo is in it’s final location. If we get any breaks in the rain this week, I’ll plant the hedge then start on the garden in front of it.
Is it rainy where you’re at? How are you coping with the disappointing weather?
