Oceans of rain

The Kiss of Oceans

1923 postcard

Powerful El Nino years tend to be drier in the Pacific Northwest, but not this time.  February is the fifth month in a row with above normal rainfall, and we're on pace to set a record for the wettest winter ever.  Can you believe it, after the long drought last year?

We average about 37 inches of rain a year in Seattle, and we're already up to 22.  The yard is so saturated the water actually puddles in spots-- I've never seen that happen on this sandy postage stamp we call home.  The dahlias may have rotted in the ground.  I won't know until May.

This week I ordered five small Leyland Cypress trees from the West Seattle nursery to plant along the alley fence.  The plan is to block our backyard view of the condos and apartments springing up behind us. Leyland Cypress is one of the fastest growing evergreens. They grow so vigorously they are often trimmed into hedges to control the size. 

Oh, fiddlesticks. Fast growing plants don't scare me. (Famous last words.)

Researching the care and feeding, I ran across the occasional horror story of trees that got as big as giant Sequoias, caused divorces and forced people to move.  It was a like looking up a medical symptom on the Internet.  You can always find the worst case scenario if you dig around enough.

Fools rush in. Besides, we're talking about DECADES to reach full height.  So unless the actuary tables are lying, we won't be around to worry about it. Our gift to the Urban Village.