We have had 3 mm of rain in the last month. Last night, we had a teaser of rain. It looked like it was going to be a real storm. The BBC forecast suggested it would be. But just a few drops, dark skies, and that was that. It didn’t even register on the garden rain gauge. This is serious, this is climate change killing agriculture and not good for the garden either.
At the steering group in the week, Kevin pointed out all the water we were supposedly using. Thousands and thousands of litres. That simply wasn’t possible; there had to be a leak. Fiona heard hissing when the water had been turned off. We lifted the concrete and there was the leak. The water was then turned off to stop the leak. So no tap until we get a repair done. A plumber is coming later in the week and we hope he will deal with it. In the meantime, we have had a hefty water bill which we hope can bring down to a more acceptable figure.
I water the wildflower bed with a watering can, covering it all with six cans, which I hope will do. The emerging seedlings are only inches high, so water is essential. I water the flax too. All the water is coming from our barrels. Water is utterly essential for plant growth. For all life on earth, but lets stick with the garden, but this deviation makes me wonder whether life anywhere in the universe will need water too. It’s too big a thought, with too little evidence. We haven’t found any life elsewhere in the universe to ascertain how it might differ from the life we know on earth.
We clean out some of the blanket weed in the pond. It smothers everything. I pull it off the hornwort and throw the hornwort back. I change the pump, so we have some oxygen flowing in. Blanket weed can smother the other oxygenators, so we must keep clearing it away. We can’t beat it, just keep it down. The donated tadpoles are lively, so there must be sufficient oxygen. The irises on the pond are beginning to flower. That seems to me so early. I went camping with the Woodcraft Folk in the late 90s for several years, in late May. We would go on a walk to the Lost Pond in Epping Forest and the irises on the pond were always in bloom. That’s three weeks later than this year. So many signs of climate change.
There are green precursors to flowers on the olive tree. They should open to become small white flowers. But I have been told this happened last year, and we got no flowers. Consequently, no olives. The walnut tree is doing better. I hope any walnuts survive the squirrels. And we have small plums on our plum tree.
The guelder rose tree near the front gate is the only tree still in full bloom. I water it; such events should be encouraged. The cherry tree blossoms have gone, and the hawthorn flowers are fading away.
The plane trees on Earlham Grove were heavily pruned at the start of spring. They are just showing leaf in their knuckled fists. In a few weeks we will get the broccoli phase before the canopy fills out, like a real tree.
We have pink alliums in a few places. They are a large ball of flowers, quite amazing how they work in that geometry. The paeonies have opened by the shelter, lavish folds of pink petals.
Our fothergilla shrub is suffering. The leaves are dying. And if left like it is, likely the plant will die too. We dig it up. The root ball has not moved into the surrounding soil. It is too compact, and probably not taking in water. We break it up a little and leave it in water overnight. We will replant it in the morning and hope it recovers.
The Ukulele players are having a good session this morning. At 1 pm they will be playing in the Forest Tavern. Does fame beckon?