Beware of the heavy rain

STEVE KAWARATANI

“[She] thinks these dark days of autumn rain

Are beautiful as days can be ... “

-- Robert Frost

“A man must be both stupid and uncharitable who believes there is

no virtue or truth but on his own side.”

-- Joseph Addison

Pitter, patter ... the rain has a way of cleansing my thoughts.

With mailboxes being inundated with negative postcards, the

much-anticipated, autumn rain is greatly appreciated. Not only does

it wash away the dirt and half-truths from handling the mail and

newspapers, it more importantly, helps to replenish depleted water

reserves.

Too much rain after nearly seven months, however, might not be a

good thing; witness the muddy water that was flowing down Temple

Terrace to Oak Street this past week. After the storm passes, it

would be wise to walk around your property, inspecting your home,

walls and trees for damage. A little preventive maintenance prior to

the next rain, such as thinning out your trees, could forestall a

major repair bill.

My tomato plants are sadly waning. They were planted after the

last storm in March, and my garden walk revealed that it was time to

say goodbye. This weekend, I’ll plant sugar snap peas in the same

15-gallon containers that held the tomatoes (with the potting soil

changed). Prior to the holidays, Catharine and I will be snacking on

these delicious peas. They can be enjoyed as a snow pea (pod and all)

when young, as a snap pea, or regular shell pea when mature.

With two extra containers, I have also decided to plant broccoli

and spinach. Both of these vegetables are for the “cool season” we

have decidedly entered. The broccoli is the hybrid, “Green Comet,”

which will produce in less than two months. Harvest prior to the

appearance of the yellow flowers. Spinach generally can be picked as

needed, after the leaves are mature.

Worms are making their reappearance on the abutilon, roses and

Japanese anemone in my garden. Holes in leaves and flowers are the

initial sighting that something is amiss. Closer inspection will

often reveal frass (insect excrement) and the perpetrator. Hand

picking is likely out of the question, so weekly applications of the

biological control, Bacillus thuriengiensis (commonly known as B.T.

or caterpillar control) will banish the pest from your flowers.

Finally, if you haven’t done so already, put that automatic

irrigation clock on “rain.” Nothing is more embarrassing than

watching your sprinklers come on during the middle of a storm (while

wasting water).

The weather cleared sufficiently to venture beyond my garden. A

recent political postcard portrayed a lovely neighborhood just north

of mine, spoiled by an obviously misplaced mansion. I walked briskly,

wanting to view this outrage ... and to my great relief, the picture

was not true. See you next time.

* STEVE KAWARATANI is the owner of Landscapes by Laguna Nursery,

1278 Glenneyre, No. 49, in Laguna Beach. He is married to local

artist, Catharine Cooper, and has two cats. He can be reached at

(949) 497-2438, or e-mail to