Not long ago I was watering all the gardens because I wanted to make sure some new and old plants had enough moisture.
I had some earthworm compost, which was perfect for filling in the places where I planted Joe Pye.
Previously I put some extra earthworms in the rose garden and backyard gardens.
I used the rain-barrel to get the new roses going, since we had so many steady, drying breezes with little or no rain. I gave all new roses routine rain showers with my MAGA - or is that MEGA - watering can.
In early spring, Ranger Bob delivered a truckload of wood mulch, which I used early to hold in moisture and ward off clumsy feet (mine).
When I left for the Anabasis and returned - the Katabasis - it was raining a lot in Springdale. Xenophon wrote a famous book used now for teaching Greek, about going on a military expedition (the Anabasis) and returning (the Katabasis). I once had a Greek history set in English that included Xenophon's work - very interesting since it does not require Greek vocabulary and grammar.
We came back to Springdale, very late in the day, to a magical garden that blossomed during the 10-day trip. It was dark, so the colorless roses were waving in the breeze, suggesting an even better display in the sunlight.
What happened to create such growth?
- Mulch and leaves were always rotting into the soil, feeding the creatures, while holding in the moisture normally robbed by steady breezes.
- Earthworms and all soil citizens increase with rain and hold/exchange vital chemicals.
- Deep roots - Joe Pye, uninvited weeds, and dandelions - drain the rain into deeper soil, breaking up clay and holding back run-off. Try the bucket challenge. Pour five gallons of water on a deeply rooted plant. It will absorb the water like a street drain (but no municipal taxes). Next pour it on an established but shallow-rooted plant. It will run off lawn grass, possibly sweep away new plants.
- Sunshine dries the soil and power-ups the growth instincts of all plants.
