Torrent.

 

 

Okay, so last week I was complaining about being stuck inside because of the heat. Well, today I've been indoors on account of the rain, which is something you'll never hear me complain about (L-O-V-E the rain!), but it never ceases to amaze me how quickly, and how dramatically the weather can shift here.

 

Yesterday it was 41*C.

 

Today it's 25*C with torrential downpours.

 

The pictures above were taken during a rainstorm that lasted, at most, fifteen minutes. Within that time, the front yard, the back yard and our street became a raging torrent of water.

 

...Okay. Maybe not a raging torrent, but as close as you'll ever get to one in these past.

 

There was thunder, and lightning, and so much water it set the fire alarm off (yeah, I'm not sure how that works, either).

 

Then the rain stopped and the water promptly soaked away. In half the time it took for the rain to fall, the yard and the street were back to normal.

The Week in Pictures...

 

A bit of a mish-mash of photos this week:

 

** I work in a small law firm where there is only the one solicitor. My level of busy depends on how much work they're filtering my way on any given day. If the flow is slow and sporadic, I tend to lose motivation and become bored pretty quickly. That was pretty much my entire week: Zero motivation, 100% boredom. That was until 4pm on Wednesday afternoon when the solicitor decided they wanted a week's worth of work completed in one hour. Boredom may drive me batty but the last-minute rush is not a preferred alternative.

 

** All day Thursday was First Aid training. It was nowhere near as boring as I thought it was going to be and I learnt a lot. One of the things I discovered is that I am not so good with open wounds, even the fake kind. However, if someone's not breathing and needs CPR, then I'm their girl - as long as they're not cut up and covered in blood or anything. Turns out I'm a bit squeamish. Who knew?

 

** Friday the rain came and stayed for two days. We ended up with more than 60mm, which is a phenomenal amount for this part of the world. Our water tanks are full, which means this week we can switch off the mains supply and return to running the house on rainwater. As long as we get regular, follow-up rain over winter and spring, we should have enough to get us through the summer. The garden has also received a good soaking. The weeds are loving it.

 

How was your week?

 

The Week in Pictures...

** Although it was a busy week with much to pass the time, there is only one thing you need to know: IT RAINED. It fell non-stop from 8am until 8pm on Wednesday. Nothing torrential, just 20mm or so, but it was absolute bliss regardless. We opened all the windows and doors and let the fresh, cool breeze flow through the house and enjoyed the sound of raindrops on our hot tin roof.



On Water Supply & Demand (Or, Why Won't it Rain?)

[Our lawn: Dry & Crunchy]

 

It's been almost two weeks since we've had town (mains) water in use inside the house. Prior it was only the taps in the garden and the loo that was connected to town water and the rest of the house was supplied by our rainwater catchments. Now we use town water for everything, from watering the garden, showering and doing the dishes. I have to admit I don't really like it much. I've been in a complete funk about having to shower in it for the last two weeks.

 

 

[The underground rainwater tank at the back of the house]

 

[A glimpse inside said underground tank. Careful you don't fall in!]

 

It has me thinking more and more about water supply and demand; the lack of it in some parts and an over-abundance in others. I wonder if the reason why some of us have so little is because others elsewhere don't think enough about where it comes from and where it ends up. I mean, do you?

 

At our property we have a 22,000L above-ground tank and a 12,000L underground tank that allows us to collect and store a modest amount of rainwater for personal use. There are no pollutants where we live so we can safely catch the water that runs from our roof to the gutters and through downpipes into our tanks. For three years (La Nina years, I should add) we did not even come close to running out of our rainwater; it rained when it was supposed to and then even when it wasn't, so that at times there would be more water than what we could hold and we'd simply have to watch the tanks overflow. 

 

[The tap that turns the town water supply on to the house]

 

But living in a semi-arid region means that things can change quite quickly - and quite drastically. South Australia is the driest state on the driest continent on earth, so rain can be fleeting and minimal at the best of times. In our region most rain generally falls between the months of May and October, making the driest time of year here November through to April. Annual rainfall can be as low as 5mm or up to 115mm. In La Nina years we might receive up to 200mm of rainfall in a 12-month period if we are really lucky. Being now in what the BoM terms Neutral Conditions, the rainfall over the last 12 months has been less than 100mm.

 

[Salt residue on the mixer tap in the shower]

 

It probably comes as no surprise that our supply of rainwater is drastically low: The above-ground tank is bone dry whilst we have around 5000L remaining in the underground. It may not seem like a big deal to have to switch to town water, but what many people (especially those living in large cities) take for granted is the supply of potable water - that is, water suitable for drinking. Besides rainwater, the only other source of water here is groundwater, which SA Water pumps from bores just outside of town. The water is extremely saline and at present absolutely reeks of chlorine. Worse than that it tastes like diluted seawater, burns your eyes and dries out your skin, giving you sores. My hair currently has a similar texture to straw and whenever I step out of the shower it feels more like I've just climbed out of a swimming pool.

 

[The flowerbeds: Dead or dying]

 

The groundwater that makes up the town water supply here is non-potable, meaning it is not suitable for drinking, yet we pay potable water prices: We pay the same rates and charges as everyone else in the state, except we receive a far inferior product. Whilst we contribute to the cost of running a desalination plant so that SA Water can meet Adelaide's water supply demand, there are no plans in place to improve the water quality here.

 

Rainwater is the only drinkable water we have. The 5000L or so currently sitting in the underground tank has to be enough until the next big rainstorm, which according to the BoM is not expected to be anytime soon.

 

Summer is a stressful, uncomfortable time of year at the best of times but made particularly worse when Mother Nature simply refuses to deliver on the rainfall. We spend far too much time these days checking the weather reports and then being disappointed when the rain they said we'd get doesn't eventuate.

 

But we and our gardens are not the only ones suffering: Spare a thought for the birds that perch themselves on our back veranda at the end of the day in search of food and water, and the native wildlife that is beginning to venture into towns searching for the same. We've not seen this since the last drought.

 

I hope that's not a sign of things to come because if so our 5000L of drinkable water most certainly won't be enough.

 

Heatwave Survival: Day 1

[Day 1: Yesterday's temperature peaked at 39*C just before 4pm]

 

[Day 1: Zucchini plant wilting from the heat, even though it is permanently shaded by 3 quandong trees]

 

Last night when the clock struck midnight I realised that I cannot remember the last time I saw fireworks on New Years' Eve. Certainly not since we made the Ranges our home: New Years' always seems to fall on a complete fire-ban day and you cannot have fireworks during fire-ban. You could start a bushfire or end up in prison. Or both.

 

It gets hot here. I may have mentioned it a few times before. Summer in this part of Australia is generally a succession of heatwaves, one after another, and we're just entering our first biggie for the season. A heatwave in South Australia is when the daytime temperature exceeds 37*C for 5 or more consecutive days.

 

There is no official weather gauge where we live. The nearest BoM weather station is some 40km from here, situated right beside the ocean. We are inland, separated from the sea by an enormous mountain range. Because there are no official weather readings being made here the BoM applies the readings taken at the nearest weather station, but what it is there is often quite different to what it is here. As such, we take our own weather readings.

 

Despite weather forecasting being an imprecise science, the BoM likes to try and forecast up to 10 days in advance. At present the BoM is predicting that for 8 of the next 10 days the temperature is expected to be greater than 40*C, with 4 of those 8 above 45*C. As the BoM goes no further into the future than 10 days the current heatwave has no known end date.

 

Prolonged periods of extreme heat are exceptionally exhausting, even with air conditioning. It's too hot to venture outside for too long and we've no swimming pool or ocean to take respite. To ensure the house stays cool inside every window and door is securely closed, along with every blind and curtain drawn to keep the light out. The air conditioning is switched on when the inside temperature reaches 28*C and is left on until the outside temperature falls below 21*C, by which time it is usually dark. It's how I imagine living in a refrigerator would be like.

 

On the weekend Shane and I prepared the vegie patch for the heat - well, as much as we could, anyway. The plot currently looks like a little community of tents made from strategically-placed pieces of shadecloth and old sheets. Only time will tell how effective they will be, although yesterday afternoon I did spy a mouse keeping cool beneath the stalks of corn, and it was so hot that I didn't have the heart to shoo him away.

 

First thing every morning I water the vegetable and flower gardens with a bucket, which takes me about an hour (we have a fairly large block). We have been collecting the water from our morning showers in the bathtub and then transferring it to the garden, one bucket at a time.* As it's not rained in so long our rainwater supplies are minimal and the mains supply of water (from a bore) is becoming increasingly saline as summer presses on, which the plants simply do not like. In the evenings I water the vegie patch again, which is connected to a dripper system. The lawn is watered once a week for 20 minutes - not enough to keep it lush and green, but it is enough to keep it alive until the next decent downpour arrives.

 

Whilst watering this morning the temperature had already reached 35*C. I noticed a lot of plants were starting to hang low and the dry earth beneath my feet was giving off a distinct, smoldering odour, and it was only the beginning of Day 2. Even the geraniums, otherwise tough and hardy, had their leaves curled in on themselves and had begun the process of discarding their blooms to conserve energy. I suspect they know what's coming better than any weatherman would. Geraniums do survival well, I've noticed. When water is scarce they'll drop every flower, leaf and limb until there's nothing more than a grey-green stick poking up out of the earth, and you might think it's dead but it's not: A sort of summer hibernation, is all.

 

By the end of every summer I know that feeling well.

 

 

 

*This is a fantastic solution to keeping your garden well-watered during a prolonged dry spell and I recommend it if you have the ability (and the time!) to do it. It's amazing how much water would otherwise escape down the drain, mostly wasted, from a single 10-minute shower. However, check that your shampoos and soaps etc are suitable for grey-water use first as you don't want to damage your plants or the soil in your garden from an over-abundance of nasty chemicals.

 

In the Garden: When the Bubble Bursts...

[Damp nights and dewey mornings]

Well, it rained.

Granted, our 45mm is somewhat meagre compared to the rainfall received by others in the district, but beggars can't be choosers, so I won't complain!

[A wheelbarrow of weeds]

I have been itching to get out into the garden and pull weeds for weeks, but the ground has been so dry that the damned things wouldn't budge.

Now that the soil is moist and soft they are pulling free nice and easily, making me a happy gardener indeed.

[Potted perennials]

I'm still unsure if I should plant the perennials I've grown from piece now, or if I should wait until spring?

Decisions, decisions!

[One bed in the veggie patch]

We are still picking capsicums, carrots and spinach, but the seedlings I planted a few weeks ago are coming along nicely too: Pumpkin, cauliflower, eggplant, beets, leeks, and pak choy.

But I've had to cut back the nasturtiums in the veggie patch again. They work wonders with keeping the bugs at bay, but seemingly overnight can expand and multiply to the point where the other plants are lost beneath them (especially after a good, soaking rain)!

Our dry bubble...

[The last of yesterday's sunlight reflecting off storm clouds to the east]

A regular sight for us this summer: Storm clouds to the east but little to no rain for us.

The BOM keeps telling us it will rain "in the Flinders", but we're in the Flinders and we've not had a significant, soaking downpour since October last year.

[Our weather forecase for this week: A big "maybe"!]

The rainwater tanks are empty: If it doesn't rain this week we will need to start thinking about either trucking water in, or arranging for a plumber to switch the house onto mains water supply. A $400 SA Water bill means we're incredibly reluctant to do the latter.

[The satellite picture for today: These can be deceiving]

Being a La Niña season, we would normally get summer rains, but this year we've missed out. We've got the humidity, but not the rain. To the north, east, west and south it has rained, but we've remained dry in our odd little bubble.

Rain over the Ranges...

[Resident ducks in the Willochra]

[Rain at Partacoona]

[Dry creek beds and a kangaroo joey enjoying the rain - mama is under the large gum tree to the left: Look closely and you can just see her (she was well-camouflaged)]

[Parched ruins]

[Rain over the Flinders Ranges, north of Quorn]

Yesterday morning the rain started to fall, so SJ and I took Bailey-dog and went for a drive (4WD) through the Ranges to the north, away from the fire.

It took us two hours to slowly make our way through the riverbeds and over the mountains. We saw oodles of wildlife, out enjoying the cooler weather and water: Kangaroos, emus, birdlife galore, and even reptiles.

In the evening the rain became heavier and more steady, filling our water tanks nicely, refreshing the garden, and dousing that fire.

We are looking forward to a much cooler, less stressful week ahead.

In Pictures: Lagooning...

  

 

East towards The Horseshoe, along many a dirt track and passing paddocks of sheep grazing on bluebush, over a slight rise and into the Boolcunda there is an elbow in the creekbed where water pools from rainfall and natural springs. All year round there's water there: An arid oasis.

In the Garden: Working in a dustbowl.

[Veggie seedlings amongst the peastraw mulch]

It's been a few months now since we've had a decent rainstorm. The last big wet came at the end of summer, around February when La Nina was providing her Grand Finale. Since then the months have become increasingly, worryingly dry.

[Teeny-weeny apricot tree & tomatoes in ground]

Over the past few weeks we have been busy in the garden, planting flower and vegetable seedlings, and noticed just how dry and parched the soil is - soil that at the same time last year was still soggy from frequent downpours. Now our yard is almost a dustbowl: There is no subsoil moisture and any water soaks away and disappears within minutes.

[Lettuce in pots and newly mulched agapanthus, lillies and alyssum]

We spent last weekend trying to work against this dry spell, planting lettuce in pots rather than in the ground, and mulching the flowerbeds and veggie patch. In the past we've not needed to mulch until late-spring, around November, right before the really hot weather arrives, but not this year: Winter is only just over (we are still getting the occasional light frost at night) and the ground is just so dry.

[Attempting to grow lawn - and a peacherine tree - in a dustbowl]

We're having to water far more often than usual for this time of year also. We've planted more lawn seed in those patches that simply didn't take last year, and of course the soil needs to be kept damp in order for the seed to germinate, which is almost impossible considering how quickly water is being absorbed, so it will be interesting to see how successful we are!