b'The August GardenBy Bridgette CrosbyA ugust in the desertTo prepare my garden for the monsoons, I dug a garden can be a hotsmall trench around each bed, creating a sunken miserable time, or aarea. Then I used the extra dirt to create berms wonderful blessing in thearound each bed in preparation for catching as form of monsoon rains. Aftermuch rain as possible. It amazes me how many fighting gophers for most ofpeople do not try to benefit from Mother Natures July, I am happy to report that I have been successfulgift. With Arizonas 20-year drought continuing in my battle to rid my garden of the burrowingevery drop of rain can make a difference in your beasties! Yet, I mustgarden or yard. When remain vigilant, as wherethe rains come, the there is one or two, moregoal is to slow it, stop are sure to follow. it, and sink it. When looking at how the My tomato plants arerainwater falls and hanging on, despite thecollects in your hot weather. I hope toyard, start nurse them throughat the top of until the monsoonsyour roof and arrive. It is necessary tofollow the water. cut them back as far asBasically, you I dare so they have timewill be managing to rebound in the cooleryour own little temps of September andwatershed on October. I also let someyour property. of the longer branches lay directly on the garden dirtThe goal would be to harvest the rainwater, or and cover these over. They will root into the soil anddirect the flow of water to where you need it or create new healthy plants, which I will cut, move,want it to go. This could be into your garden, and plant in the fall.into your tree wells, water barrels, or cistern.August is the time to prepare for monsoon rains.For your monsoon garden, choose seeds that I encourage you to consider planting a monsoonmake you happy. You can use native seeds or garden this year and to take advantage of theexperiment with newer varieties that are available moisture. Native Americans have relied on theat most garden centers. Check out Native Seeds monsoons for thousands of years and consideredin TucsonNativeSeeds.orgthey have a great the summer rains a life-sustaining gift. Oftentimes,selection and valuable information. And dont forget they would actually plant near arroyos and washesthe flowers - sunflowers, hollyhocks, salvia, fire that would naturally flood with rainwater. Theywheel, coreopsis and so many more! would then channel the water as necessary into the carefully planned plots and gardens, which wereWith the ongoing drought, make every raindrop also sunken and surrounded by higher berms. Thiscount. Although the National Weather Service has method of farming allowed them to collect rainwaterpredicted lower-than-normal precipitation this year, from a large watershed area, even when rains fell aalong with higher temperatures, and a delay to the long distance away. Vegetables such as beans, corn,start of the storms, lets all work together to do our squash, (the 3 Sisters) melons, sunflowers, devilsbest rain dance whenever and as often as possible! claw, amaranth, and even crops we consider weeds like purslane did very well. Happy Digging! Photos by Bridgette Crosby38 August 2023'