Very few mosquitoes this year. :-)

Why is it wasting water to use it?

If there is enough water to use, and it is used wisely (not in the heat of the day with evaporation, not running down hard surfaces,etc...), whats wrong with using it? Why does use have to imply waste and anti-environment?

I water responsibly. My town has ample water supplies (lucky me). I have thousands of dollars (not to mention time and energy) invested in vegetation that I have no interest in wasting

Not to start a flame, but I don't think its right to generalize about who is anti-environment and what constitutes waste.

It's too dry even for slugs!

I haven't had to do much weeding in weeks. But that's the only good thing.

Hmmm, this is a tough one, since someone already mentioned slugs. The mosquito thing is actually not so great, because this weather makes them live much longer; a higher percentage (though not a higher total number) of them become infected (EEE, West Nile) and once infected continue to spread disease longer. Also, powdery mildew is most rampant in drought conditions; I'm not making that up, either, it was in the extension service bulletin last year. Apparently, the rain actually washes it off the leaves and plants that are not drought-stressed are less susceptible to it.

Here's one: this drought is bad enough that it's decimating the black vine weevil population, though, or I hope it is. Well, maybe that's true, they like to live in damp plant debris. On the negative side, I noticed today that even a well-established climbing hydrangea in full shade was badly wilted.

OK, I've got it. The up side for me is that I'll be able to buy more plants next spring, to replace the ones that are out there biting the dust now. That's a pretty thin silver lining, though.

dtd...my silver lining with mosquitoes is that we have barely had a mosquito in the yard all summer. We have a screenhouse and we've barely used it. There were enough back in May but as June/July/Aug marched on..it became fewer and fewer. I don't remember last time I saw one. So, my personal experience doesn't seem to line up with that report that suggests they live longer in drought.

As for mildew. I have plants that normally are covered with mildew that look very healthy this year. I have thought it might be the lower humidity and cooler temps than usual. I also have been watering on a limited basis. Some things look stressed, but some things don't. But over all mildew is at an all time low in my yard this year.

Last year on the other hand, we had rain almost weekly and I never saw my grass look so green and I think I set the sprinkler once all summer. Last year, I had mildew all over everything.

Wendy - it's JMHO, but I think water is a precious resource and that watering grass is a waste of water. Yes, in weather like this it probably means that grass in full sun will burn out and some re-seeding will be necessary in the fall.

I love my gardens and don't want to lose valuable plants either. I've spent hundreds or maybe thousands of dollars on plants not to mention many hours planting, transplanting, and tending. The mature, established perennials, shrubs and trees will probably be fine, but I have lots of "babies" that I'm pampering a little. Grass on the other hand is just a convenient green ground-cover for me. Functional and practical for certain parts of the yard. It doesn't fall into the category of valuable plants.

Actually last year I took on a lawn fixup project that included adding lots of compost and overseeding in an effort to thicken it up and reduce weeds (to reduce herbicide use). The silver lining in that project was that the amount of water it needs this year is drastically reduced.

OTOH, my mature black-eyed susans are wilting regularly :-(

Another silver lining to no rain...I don't have to put covers over the patio furniture or drag them in the garage. Even though they are "outdoor" cushions, they take forever to dry out to sit on if they get caught in rain.

My garden tools aren't rusting so fast.

I must agree with Terrene as well on the lawn subject. Green lawns, pretty lawns are well overrated. There are not worth the effort to keep them green and the cost of water is absurd. If I'm spending money to water something, then it's going to be on my flower gardens, my shrubs, not moving a sprinkler to keep a pretty green lawn.

Those yards around me that have that beautiful green lawn either have a front yard that's fully shaded with trees or the lawn companies are doing the work and pouring enough pesticide on the lawns to kill a horse. Thank goodness they are on the other end of the street.

The next door neighbors moved thank goodness, (that's a whole other story) and they took their lawn company with them. Amazing, now that they are gone, my yard is full of all kinds of beneficial insects and bees of all kinds. The new neighbors use nothing but a lawn mower on their lawn.

As for a silver lining, well, it's easier to dig up more of the lousy lawn I have to make new flower beds and even the weeds are doing well.

Fran

I don't water my own lawn, but have nothing against anyone else watering their's. We all have to make these decisions for ourselves, and we are mostly all pretty careful making them. If I ever get around to actually working on my crummy lawn, I'm sure I'll want to keep it watered afterwards. I'm also pretty sure some of my neighbors wonder why I water the weed patch that I call a garden.

As for chemicals, I only object to their application when the wind is blowing in my direction. Even doing that has gotten me in hot water with one neighbor, who hasn't spoken to me in the 15 years since I told her Lawn Company guy that I didn't want his broad leaf weed killer on my property; I could see the stuff blowing right across the street that day. I was civil about it, as was he, but she went right off the deep end over it. No big loss, I guess.

My husband is happy that the lawn is dormant. I can rake some leaves now, less for later.

I don't want to lose many plants, especially some of the big older ones. If they are stressed now, what will happen come winter?

I imagine the fall foliage will suffer, that could affect the local economies that rely on the tourists.

I do not miss the slugs, though all my hostas are wilted and I am tired of collecting my gray water.

I'm sitting here reading these and can hear thunder in the distance to the north and west. A line of thunderstorms is coming across Mass. and a few drops are starting to fall! Maybe we'll actually get some rain? Kinda forgotten what it's like!

As for the lawn, in this weather I am okay with people watering lawns just the minimum amount to keep them from dying - especially if they have invested in their lawns. But it requires an awful lot of water to have a "pretty lush green" lawn in such dry conditions! It's kind of ridiculous.

Just watering the gardens and all the things I've planted is bad enough! I just got my water bill and our water usage has shot WAY up this summer.

Hey, the rain is falling a little harder out there....:)

ah terrene, glad you got some rain.....here in Malden I watched the weather radar as that line moved in, sat on the front steps as wind and lighnting appeared heard thunder.......and no rain fell.......they broke up and the biggest segment went north....

as for a positive....this has been the best tomato and pepper season in years (with watering), my ground cover sedum is doing great! The Madam Alfred C. rose has loved the heat this year aand is currently on to its third bloom flush (with hose help) And I expect a good tulip survival rate from springs blooms....other positive may be less of the beetle grubs (and the adults) next year...thats probaly wishful thinking tho.

Michaelb...it turns out we didn't get any rain to speak of either!! Got everything a little wet and that's it. It's not even wet under the canopy of the large maples. Oh well. Just like you, the storms either went north or south of here or fell apart once they got to general area. I know somebody must have gotten some heavier rain somewhere in eastern Mass.

Anyway at least it's not 95 degrees today and I am going to take advantage of these exceptionally dry conditions to go out and hack away at some more Oriental bittersweet vines and Buckthorn today. Then give then a good dose of herbicide.

Then I have to dig up some stuff for the swap next weekend!