By Victoria Torley

It’s raining again and Metric Man is grumpy. He’s grumpy because all he sees is rain. That and the problems caused by rain. A leak here and there, a landslide, no signal on the TV, muddy dog feet, no wonder he is grumpy!

Yes, all those things are true and I am someone who does object to muddy dog feet, especially on my newly scrubbed tile, but there is a difference.

Metric Man does not garden, but gardeners see things a bit differently.

We put buckets under the leaks and call a roof specialist; we mop up the paw prints, grab a book, and remember to plant vetiver on the hillside. When all that is done, we very quietly bless the rain.

All this lovely rain is making my plants grow and recharging the lake so we can send water to our friends on the coast. It is washing the tree trunks, gathering nutrients as it goes and carrying them onto the roots of my epiphytic orchids. It is also rejuvenating the moss.

Rejuvenating moss is important since I harvest a lot of moss and not just for the orchids. Much of it gets used immediately but some of it gets heated in the oven or microwave and used like peat moss in and on pots. Handy stuff, moss, and the rain are making a luxurious crop of it right now.

Now, it’s true that rain can turn a lot of ground into mud–messy sticky mud, but up here near the lake all you need is a couple hours of sun and that top layer of mud is easy to turn over with a shovel and easy is a gardener’s dream. If you don’t believe me, try sticking a shovel into hard-baked ground and you will soon be ready to trade the shovel for a pickaxe. Been there, done that. Easy is better. I am far too old for a pickaxe.

Rain is getting into everything. Out there in the rain there are piles of branches and yard waste that are being softened by the rain. Holes are appearing and by morning the beetles and bugs and creepy crawlies will have found their way into the holes to help break down that waste and turn it into compost, deep rich compost that will nourish the garden beds.

Rain is good stuff. I have my mop, my book, and I bathed the dog. Now if I could only channel the rain into the leaf-cutter nests and drown them right out. There must be a way!

Plant of the week. Let’s talk about the inkberry (Ilex glabra). This tough little shrub does a great job helping water soak into the ground instead of pooling up. You can find it pretty easily and plant it on your property, especially useful when those heavy rains roll in. Bad drainage isn’t just annoying; it can mess with your foundation and even flood your basement. Want more plants that help with that? Check out summer sweet, black chokeberry, or cranberry bush. All solid picks to help manage extra water in your yard.

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Find more interesting stories about gardening in Costa Rica on the AM Costa Rica Garden page. Questions on this article, Ms. Victoria Torley, gardener columnist, can be reached by emailing victoriatorley1@gmail.com
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