As of December 29th, the precip in the State of New Jersey was expected to go above 63.25 inches, making it our wettest year on record! On average, NJ’s statewide annual precipitation is 46.36 inches.
We just repaired a few leaks in our home; in the basement and on the roof. I'm not surprised at NJ's record breaking rainfall. Summer of 2018 was so wet. We didn't really need a rain barrel; we had more than enough water for the garden.
Inside, our basement sump pumps are pumping away; leaving us no choice, but to helplessly watch as the water table rises. Water is now visible and creeping along the cracks and corners of the concrete floor.
Outside, wildlife, hibernating critters and feral cats continue to go about their business of surviving the cold, wet winter. With global warming, could this be our new normal? Soggy ground and muddy garden areas haven't had a chance to dry out in between the frequent rain.
Garden raised beds have green moss growing on the tops of the end caps and the wood is turning moldy green. Even the surrounding garden fence is turning green!
With more water, I wonder if we will get tree frogs when the weather warms? I love their trills and voices in nature. If higher than normal rainfalls continue, I'm sure that tropical plants will thrive. We have some, but will consider planting more moisture loving plants and tropicals such as:
Cannas - our dug up rhizomes from last year were huge from all the rain!
Watercress, Lepidium sativum
Parsley, Petroselinum crispum
Joe Pye weed, Eupatorium perfoliatum
Swamp sunflower, Helianthus angustifolius
Cardinal flower, Lobelia cardinalis
Swamp milkweed, Asclepias incarnata
Japanese iris, Iris ensata
Pickerel weed, Pontederia cordata
Marsh marigold, Caltha palustris
Obedient plant, Physostegia virginiana
After all, it is winter; I'd rather have rain or snow. I hope that we do not get freezing rain like we have the past few years. It was so awful to watch and hear the cracking sounds of established white pine branches snap and fall to the ground.
Related Links
Perennials for Wet Soil
Resource
https://www.njweather.org/content/top-ten-new-jersey-weather-and-climate-events-2018
Blog post and photo Copyright (C)Wind. All rights reserved.
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