In the olden days, it rained when we needed some rain. Often we did not even get the needed rain, so we watered.
Our rain barrels were kept empty during last winter. But then I worried that we would need some stored rain for soaking roses and planting. What was I thinking?
I had to pick a day when digging roses would not be a mud-wrestling match where I lost. Two days worked well and the roses were planted - Veterans Honor all. No more bending down to figure out what wrist-band said. Cuts, scratches, blood from a deep thorn? - more fertilizer for the roses.
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Will yearly on the vigil feast his neighbours,
And say ‘To-morrow I plant roses again:’
Then will he strip his sleeve and show his scars.
And say ‘These wounds I had on planting day.’
I started to cut and pile up those hollow canes from various plants that grew and re-started this year, especially Joe Pye Weed and Bee Balm. I piled them near the street for the big claw pick-up later. Instead, a neighbor came over and asked to use them for kindling. Nothing is wasted - just like the ending of the miraculous feeding.
Several roses began showing their strength, and the roses-gone-wild jumped up in the rain. Those are the grafted roses where the hybrid tea graft died and the wild rose root base kept growing. Their plan is to bloom once with dark red roses, then turn into thorny weeds for the rest of the summer. So they think.
Yesterday was a good example of recent rain. We had loud thunderous rain in the wee witching hours - that stopped in time for Sassy to walk. It was pleasant and a little warm for our trip to H.O.G. - the Arkansas themed oncology center.
When it was time to leave, a cloudburst caught us on the way home, and it was wintry, no longer pleasant. I asked whether anyone wanted a cold, stale pizza delivered by Pizza Hut or a fresh warm one made by the butler. A few minutes later we shared a four-cheese Schwan pizza, which Sassy loves. I had to cut some pizzas and make bites for Sassy so we could eat in semi-peace.
Today Sassy and I will travel to Walmart and beyond to take care of a few things. She quietly watches the route and makes sounds if it is something new to her. On the way home she barks excitedly as she spots turns that mean she is almost home.
Soon I will get some peat compost (Stinky Peat) to put on each new rose. Peat moss alone is neutral, but Stinky Peat has manure mixed in for renewing the soil. In our case we want more worm action in the clay soil, and that means more nutrition in the root zone.
