Sheet Mulching in the Rain
Back to back storms this week lead to the usual traffic mayhem. A common refrain around here is that Californians don’t know how to drive in the rain. In the garden, however, all is well.
Anxious to finish my sheet mulching project, I’ve been gathering additional cardboard wherever I go. With my son’s help, I put down the last of the cardboard yesterday under a light rain.
With the cardboard in place, it was time to add a layer of garden waste.
Serendipity! Today’s storm brought a bundle of leaves to the ground, begging to be scooped into a wheelbarrow. I happily obliged.
It takes a lot of leaves to mulch a large area of lawn, so I gathered leaves in front of three different houses. No one complained! 😉 I started my sheet mulching project over a week ago, and after thirty minutes of digging managed to throw out my neck. It’s been a mess ever since and I worried I wouldn’t be able to finish the project on my own. The better news is I did it. I raked, swept and scooped leaves for over two hours late this afternoon without stressing my neck. Ironically it hurts to stand up straight or lean back, but I’m fine bending over.
Whenever it rains, I find myself humming ‘Raindrops on roses’ from one of my all-time favorite movies, The Sound of Music. With apologies to Oscar Hammerstein I’ve come up with a gardening rendition. In case you’re not familiar with the tune, I’ve included an audio clip below.
Raindrops on noses, this weather I’m smitten
Dark, cloudy skies, stormy weather has bitten
Brown, rotting leaves rainy weather does bring
These are a few of my favorite things.
Waterlogged earthworms are shaped like a noodle
Scooped from the gutter, in oodles and oodles
Soggy wet weather it makes my heart sing
These are a few of my favorite things.
Sweeping the gutters, the rain water splashes
Raindrops that stay on my nose and my glasses
Storm after storm rainy weather it brings
These are a few of my favorite things.
When my gloves tear, and my neck stings
When I’m feeling had
I simply remember my favorite things
And then I don’t feel so bad.
The incomparable Julie Andrews sings My Favorite Things in the 1965 movie classic The Sound of Music.
Gardening Nirvana 
Great! Now I’ve got that song stuck in my head! Not like that is a bad thing, but just great! All I want to do now is twirl around in my kitchen and sing! But seriously, I hope your neck is feeling better! I had to chuckle though at your line “Californians don’t know how to drive in the rain”, how about trying to drive in a foot of snow. Hugs!
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I can’t imagine driving in a foot of snow. I hear ice is much worse. Sorry about the ear worm. It’s a good one though.
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Great that you have got so much done on the lawn as well as had some much needed rain!
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Thank you, Helen.
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Love your version… now where’s the video of YOU singing it Alys! 😉
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🙂
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Nice one honey – you of course being one of OUR favourite things 🙂
Rain is just the perfect time to turn a lawn into a garden – everything is working out well – except for the neck 😦 Has your drought officially broken? We had two fine days this week, it was quite exciting 🙂
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Hurray for two fine days. Is the winter gloom still hanging on, Pauline.
They are telling everyone that although the rain is welcome, that it is not the end of the drought. That said, we’ve had an extraordinary amount of rain this month. Every little bit helps. The bigger deal is the amount of snow we get in the Sierra foothills. The melted snow pack helps fill the reservoirs.
Meanwhile, I’m growing guilt-free red cyclamen in a pot, happily soaking up the rain.
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We have had a full week of beautiful weather, though today is wet again – but our forecast is for the return of summer through til Christmas. t least it is no longer cold!
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I’m happy to hear you’ve had some sunshine. It will feel more like Christmas when the seasonal weather returns.
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You clever girl! La la la….favourite things!! Loved it. That was totally awesome and your words bounce along perfectly with the melody. Now I have that song in my head. Since I’ve heard you sing like a bird, I will say you and Julia could very well do your rendition as a duet. You have fantastic pipes xo
Glad for your rain, happy for your recovery that allows you to continue to do what you love and grateful for your young men that can lend mom a hand. I could see you zooming around the hood with your trusty wheel barrow. LOL, it’s not the typical Super heroes mode of action but you’re smart to collect them, they’re wet and free! Spidey has his webs, Batman has the Bat Signal and now Super Alys has a wheelbarrow 😀 You’re too cute!
I’ve been watching the news about the rain in California. I’m so happy for you and will be even happier if it takes a wee break next week, LOL 😉
Keep shining my dear, you’re a force! xoxoxox K
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Thank you, Boomdee. This was a lot of fun. Boy, to sing like Julie Andrews. She has a three-octave range. Amazing, eh?
You posted your comment December 4th. I can’t believe I’ve fallen so far behind. What’s the weather up to today?
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You know what? I didn’t get outside at all today and only just now sat down to watch the National News. It looked bright and sunny though. I think it’s to continue to be Sunny and Mild for a few days! Has the rain stopped? Marlene thanked me for bringing rain to California and I’d like to laugh but hey, weren’t you having a drought until Boomdee blew into town? LOL. xo
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You’re a rainmaker! Hip hip hooray!!!
I’m glad you sun is shining, but sorry you were too busy to go out and enjoy it. We had light rain and clouds yesterday, more dark skies and clouds today, but then it clears with four or five days of warm, dry weather. Crazy.
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