
Technically, we had a 95 year rain, since the last time it rained like that around here was in 1913.
I measured between 5.5 and 6 inches in my rain gauge once it was all over.
But it was much worse south of here, where people had to leave their homes for higher ground, with just what they could carry on a boat, and a hospital had to be evacuated. Places flooded that had never been known to flood before, or even come close to flooding.
My sister took some pictures on her street, which we all remember flooding like that once when we were kids.
It was quite a slow moving storm and just dumped everything it had on us.
And now today the sun was shining, and most of the water is gone, moving down river, so to speak.
*****
Yesterday, while standing in the back doorway, I took this picture of my vegetable garden.

Today, the garden looks normal again.

I do feel like the vegetable garden is behind by at least a week over last year. Last year at this time I was tying up the tomatoes. This year, they are not nearly tall enough to try to tie to any stakes.
*****
The strawberries have been coming on strong and this is my best crop ever. The picture above are the berries I picked this morning from my one 4' x 8' strawberry patch.

I had so many strawberries that I used some of them to make strawberry freezer jam this afternoon. I just did a taste test and have decided that it is good. If I can keep myself from eating it all this summer, that jam is going to be a real treat this winter.
Strawberries are a crop that needs just a little bit of attention, a few times a year, but it is well worth the extra effort. I really don't have that much experience growing strawberries, so I refreshed my memory on what to do by referencing information from my local cooperative extension service.
By the way, when I need more information on something gardening related, I often check cooperative extension bulletins. People forget sometimes that "county agents" who work for the cooperative extension service are there to help not just farmers, but home gardeners, too, and they have written hundreds of bulletins about all kinds of vegetable and fruit crops.
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In other garden news, the spoons seem to be keeping the rabbits away from the beans, or maybe it was the rain? Regardless, the beans remain uneaten. However, a couple of the squash plants seem to have been nibbled on, so if it isn't too late, tomorrow I'm going to 'spoon' them, too.
And I've taken the first step on my plant cataloging project by gathering up all the old plant tags and receipts that I could find. They are all in one basket now, so tomorrow, I'll start sorting them, right after I pick more strawberries.
Comments
Thanks,
Carol, May Dreams Gardens
Good reminder about the County Extension offices. Gardeners in our area our lucky to have not only a very active Extension Service, but also the resources of the University of Illinois. Help is available for any gardening topic. (Of course, our wonderful governor wants to stop funding all the Extension offices...)
Those strawberries look delicious. I was grazing through a friends garden this weekend. Their strawberries are about finished for the season.
I haven't had any trouble getting onto your blog lately.
I have been having a great deal of trouble with my internet connection and many of my posts aren't loading but I keep trying! Your garden looks great after your big rain...and very productive! One of these days you are going succeed in convincing me (reading about your successes) to grow a vegetable garden.
gail
Rain always seems like a good thing but this storm goes to show that even good things, in excess, can be bad.
You've made me want to eat strawberries so badly that I went out and bought some this weekend. I'm sure yours were better.
Sherry at the Zoo, it's amazing how quickly the water runs off. Just on the other side of the fence, there is a bee hive drain, so the water didn't have far to go.
Karen, My corn hasn't been under water, but this isn't going to be a good year for it, too wet!
Rose, raised beds is the only way to go for vegetable gardens. I certainly couldn't hoe up the beds, too wet for that, but I would walk through the paths and pull weeds.
SuzyQ, keep in mind the best time to plant strawberries is in the early spring because most are sold as bare root starts. So, plan for next year.
Lisa at Greenbow, I think I'm nearing the end of these strawberries, too. I picked another 150 this evening, so I guess I need to make more jam.
Brenda Jean, yes, I am a big promoter of raised beds for any kind of "crop" planting.
Gail, that would be wonderful to see you start a vegetable garden! What else should I post about to convince you?
MSS @ Zanthan Gardens, I'll have to admit, my strawberries taste good, and I know they are pesticide free.
MMD, I am so glad I don't have squirrels in my garden, though I think as the trees mature in my neighborhood, I'm sure the squirrels will find us.
Pam/digging, I sure wish I could send some of this rain your way, too. As I type this, I can hear thunder off in the distance and wonder if more rain is coming our way. I don't even want to look at the weather radar to see. I'm sick of it!
Thanks all for the comments,
Carol, May Dreams Gardens
Hope it drys out for you.
Sam