Good News vs. Bad News

It's raining steady on this part of the "Hill". Predictions are the same all day and on and off through Saturday.


The Good News:


Autumn rains insure established plants (perennials, trees, bushes) are not stressed going into the harshness of winter.

• Any new plants need this even more.


• You will not have to use water supplies to accomplish this protection.


• Rain washes things off and makes plants, walks, etc. fresh and clean.

• We continue to replenish the low water table from the last few years of drought.

The Bad News:

• Field crops in this area do not need rain. Corn and soybeans, in particular, need to complete the process of drying before they are picked.


• Crops picked without adequate drying usually require expensive bin drying.


• Mildew and mold are already a problem on both yard, garden and field crops.

• Many area residents have had their homes flooded this summer because of ground saturation and slow run off during heavy rains.

There's really nothing we can do about today's rains except use it as a great excuse to NOT work in the yard. Although I didn't get that luxury today, it would have been a perfect day to curl up on the couch with a cup of tea and read a good book - perhaps a gardening book.
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I read this little hint the other day and although I haven't tried it, I thought it worth passing along. This is for gardeners bothered by neighborhood or stay cats using your beds as their litter box.

Peel your oranges or chop the peel up after juicing. Drop the peeling in areas where the cats have been digging. The smell is suppose to be offensive to cats. It doesn't harm any animals and it biodegrades over time.

Do not use hot pepper spray on the soil or mulch. This not only burns the cat's feet but it burns their insides when they try to clean it off their paws. This is simply a way to torture animals because they don't figure out what is causing the pain.