SUMMER WEEK 3

BOUQUET INGREDIENTS

zinnias, cosmos, celosia

We've been quite lucky with the rain this season, which means I've hardly had to irrigate at all! It also means that our weeds—particularly our grassy weeds—are thriving. I won't complain about that too much, though, because the abundant rain this year has not only saved me the work and mental effort of keeping up with irrigation schedules, but rain is also plants' preferred source of water.

That's because rainwater is typically slightly acidic and free of many of the minerals found in city water or groundwater. It also penetrates the soil more effectively because raindrops can fall at speeds of up to 20 miles per hour. You may have also noticed that plants tend to look greener after a good rain. That's partly because rain, especially during a thunderstorm, actually contains small amounts of fertilizer.

During a thunderstorm, lightning breaks the bonds of atmospheric nitrogen, allowing it to combine with atmospheric oxygen. The resulting nitrogen oxides are picked up by falling raindrops and dissolve into nitrates. These bioavailable nitrates are then delivered to our plants when the rain reaches the ground. (If you're confused by the chemistry, that's okay -- I am too. Basically lightning fixes the nitrogen in our atmosphere and the rain carries it in an altered, usable form to plants' roots.)

So while I've gotten rained on during work more than ever this season, I am grateful for the nourishing rain and the break from the heat.

Wishing you a wonderful week!

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