Glad for the rain

So it's raining for another week or so, according to several weather reports. To this I say "yay!". We need the rain, especially here in California. I firmly believe there will come a time in the not too distant future when potable water here and indeed everywhere, will be scarce. I will cherish my gardens while they last. Furthermore and on a more narrow note, my garden is soaking in the rain like there's no tomorrow. For the sea of tiny green and crimson lettuce heads emerging in my garden beds, this is just what the weatherman ordered.

All of my warm weather vegetables and herb seeds are sprouting under artificial lights right now. I cannot stand the spindly results I get by setting my seed trays in a window, even a sunny one. In a couple of weeks the raised, tiered planters in my front yard will be complete and I will have rich organic soil brought in to mix with the dark mulch in my compost bin. I have been saving the three or so cubic yards for just such a purpose.

Hubby has agreed to let me tear out our 350+ square foot lawn which will be replaced with gardens and planters. Lawns are lame, I'm sorry. They're just so 60's and people, especially home owners somehow feel like their house isn't complete without one. I am going to rip out our sponge of a lawn and replace it with a hardy but beautiful xeriscape which will suck up a fraction of the water. The plants I have selected will keep the space awash with hummingbirds, butterflies and bees. We are planning to build planter boxes of redwood which will be surrounded by arbors and a winding garden path. The perimeter of the front yard will be fenced. Grape vines and a mixture of other creeping garden delights will protect the garden from plain view. It will be a secret garden of sorts.