08/30/2026
Hometown Gardener 8/30/26 September is the transition month. Meteorological fall begins this Tuesday. Fall equinox is third week 21st/22nd. This is when the tilt of the Earth tracks the sun directly over the equator. After that the sun tracks into the Southern Hemisphere and we begin the shorter days/longer nights. Think we are all ready for that to happen.
It has been a very rough August. Scads of, "What's wrong with my (fill in the blank)" on the gardening pages. Sad that so many folks think this is a disease of sorts that we can cure. It is called heat combined with drought. Most plants really love heat as long as there is adequate moisture/humidity. True, many of the symptoms are disease because poor conditions cause stress and stress opens the door to disease and insect damage. So we who are supposed to cure the disease write, "Water slow and deep," with every answer. Sprinklers of any kind throw water into the air and evaporation right now is scary. Pour and inch of water onto a pan or plate in the morning and check it at sundown. We are losing an inch or so every day to evaporation. So watering in the morning is a bad idea. Water at sundown to give your plants all night to rehydrate. Lake levels are dropping so water in the morning evaporates quickly in these conditions. This is extreme weather. That calls for different tactics. Keep that water in the lake and use it wisely. It does not matter how expensive your new "automatic" popup spray heads were. You have to learn how to use it. Nothing is foolproof when the chips go down.
Speaking of irrigation, you can look at the American Southwest and draw a line from Nebraska all the way to the Pacific. Popup spray systems are now outlawed in all those states. Texas and Oklahoma are not included yet. We will be as our populations keep growing and we continue to build factories and data centers that consume large quantities. Drought is the Demon that puts us all out of business. As soon as our lake levels drop to 50% restrictions kick in. The first order is to limit outdoor use. At 30% all outdoor use is stopped entirely. Exactly when we as gardeners need it the most. Remember 2011?
Every client I have worked with since 2011 has had an option to do water collecting off the roof. We were obliged to set up a collection system before we could begin the work in 2011. We made front page news that year and got free advertising from all other media. What a novel idea. On the other hand, some states will not allow water collection at all. Colorado in particular was one of the first. Forty years ago they already knew the consequence. Every drop needed to feed Lake Meade and Lake Powell whose water and electricity feeds untold millions in the drier states. Both lakes are in serious trouble now. What were my competitors doing in 2011? Many were hauling water to clients. Folks were stealing water. We were obliged to put locks on all hose bibs before we went home at night. This is all true and happened here. Do you think it will never happen again? Hauled water is expensive to say the least.
Meanwhile in 2012 Wichita Valley decided to show the public what could be done on rainfall alone. Our entire frontage from the parking lot to the street has not had a drop to this day. We practice what we preach. Our small office building has gutter and a downspout on every corner as does our greenhouse. All of our water goes into collection tanks and we use it. Even so, we still pay $300 to $400 every month for city water. When I asked about the down payment they wanted they compared us to Smith's whose water bill typically ran in the thousands. I managed to talk the water department into $500 since we were so much smaller. BTW Smith's also collects water in the two ponds on their frontage. Just makes sense if you are a serious gardener or in this business. Cactus and gravel is not the answer. Check our public displays.
OK? I don't know yet who took trophies home from Hotter 'n Hell. I do know that at some point Hell's Gate rest stop shut down due to heat. Air temps at 100(f) means the heat off that asphalt where the bikers ride was around 130 (f) and higher at more exposed locations. Late riders were sent on an optional shorter route through SAFB. Other than that another successful ride was put on the books. Hats off to those who went the entire 100. 45th year and counting for HHH. Teams from as far away as New Zealand were present. I read the back of one Tshirt that said Guatemala. I'm sure there were some mishaps along the way. There always is.
I have an organic raised chicken on the grill. Using Kenny Humpert's Honey BBQ seasoning. I've known Kenny for years and watched his seasoning biz grow. Honey BBQ is his best work so far. This bird was stuffed with fresh portulaca from what's left of my veggie garden. Everything else is toast. Literally...
September kicks the second season for landscaping and gardening. If you still think it is April you are shopping at the wrong place. Talk to some veteran gardeners. If you have never seen a valuable plant die you haven't done much gardening. Our half price tree sale ends Monday. Get on board.
Pray for the flood that will end this drought. Live in comfort. Be at peace. Think positive. See you soon!!
Send a message to learn more