Hi there.
Heavy rains are continuing all over Japan. I hope you are all safe. I miss the sunny days, longing for the summer sunshine. It is hard to believe that it had been sweltering hot outside. Last Sunday marked the official first day of autumn, and I guess many of you will be going on your Obon vacation. It is a bit depressing when the weather continues to be so dull and gloomy. I am still hoping summer will not pass us by, and looking forward to the nice weather coming back. When it is raining, we can't even work on the site.
Things Concern Me During Heavy Rainfall
Plants and trees were hydrated well after the rain. Plants had been thirsty due to the extreme heat, and we had received many requests for advice on leaf scorch and branch dieback. The only way to fix these plants is to water them at the best time of day. However, the heavy rains solved the problem, helping the weakened, dry plants. On the other hand, some areas have been affected by landslides due to severe rain. A friend of mine who lives in the Tohoku region told me that they have been having a hard time.
The heavy rainfall was brought by a line of cumulonimbus clouds that developed and stayed in place. And even if the rain stops, we should not feel relieved. We can see when a river overflows or floods and know that it is dangerous, but we cannot see the amount of water in the soil. If the water comes out little by little, the river level does not go down. Moreover, if earthquakes, which have frequently been happening, occur, the loose ground is likely to collapse.
Soil moisture conditions can affect plants as well as our lives. If you live near a mountain or a river, please stay alert for rising water and possible mudflows.
Even though we work with nature every day, we realize that we are helpless in the face of natural disasters. Natural events remind us that we are small and vulnerable. Gardens are also a part of nature; no matter how much we try to manage them, there are some things we cannot control. I feel that how we will live with nature in the future is a significant issue.
In summer, cumulonimbus clouds produce evening showers and heavy rain very often. We should learn from this heavy rainfall and get prepared whenever it happens.