When you are holding a highly powered hose in one hand and a precious camera in the other, trying to get an artistic shot presents a bit of a problem.
When I first envisaged this post, I had images of gently falling droplets of water, glistening against a bright blue sky and a blazing sun. What I got was shooting jets of water and an almost wet camera.
I did though, I think, manage to capture the essence of what I was trying to communicate with you, and that is, I got a new water pump for our rain tank today.
A few years ago, I don't remember when exactly, the Australian government offered rebates on the cost of buying and installing water tanks for individual dwellings in Queensland. Very excited, off we went and purchased our lovely 3000 litre tank, and started watering. Since that time, the price of water here has skyrocketed, and water restrictions aside, I wouldn't dream of using town water on the garden. Not in a million years.
Unfortunately for me, after a year or two the pump on our tank died. Water would still come out of the tank, with but no pressure I was relegated to filling up a watering can to water the garden.
Which meant that not everything got watered all the time. You all know that lugging around 9 litres of water is no fun, and with my garden ranging from one end of the house yard to the other, my enthusiasm for the task was negligible. And things got neglected. I'm sad to say that sometimes seedlings died, and plants wilted, all because I got tired of lugging.
But today I lug no more! After several years of saving (I think I thought pumps cost a lot more than they actually do), I am now the proud owner of one freakishly high-pressure pump.
The vegetables won't know what's hit them.
20 comments:
"The vegetables won't know what's hit them" made me chuckle. They're not going to get flattened are they?
It's very powerful LBM! I'm glad I didn't go the next step up, I'd have blasted that pineapple right out of its basket.
Fantastic. Glad you got a new pump. I admire your water conservancy. We really need to get our act together and get some rain storage for the garden. Pity we didn't have it this winter - there's been a huge amount of rainfall...
Oh I didn't notice the pineapple. Is it growing there?
Perfect for blasting aphids off plants! (And water fights!)
We've never had a pump for our tank and I'm wondering if we should. The water still comes out but in a little spray and watering the garden takes ages.
Water fights! Do you know what I am looking forward to? Putting the sprinkler on and letting the boys run around in the spray for a bit. We used to do it all the time as kids, when we didn't really think about the waste.
LBM, yes, in the last photo, it's the poor thing being blaster in the hanging basket.
Byddi a lot of people here, in Queensland at least, I don't know about other places, have water tanks... we have quite severe water restrictions, and for a long time we weren't allowed to water at all. If you got caught hosing with town water you were fined... Most people are very good with trying to save water, I try very hard too, and as my part I don't do the washing up too often :D
It's the little things isn't it. Funny what you miss when you don't have them and a highlight for me how much I take for granted sometimes.
We couldn´t survive without our water pumps. We even have have a portable fire-fighters pump so we can fill up the garden tanks from the dam when they run dry.
Your garden is looking fantastic!
We put three in last year....my husband went to great lengths to get them installed...but...still we have not had the pump installed...all summer long...........
Giggling at your antics Ali! :)
Ali....lol....boy do I understand the satisfaction of a decent water pressure. However, I think that rather than a delicate dew drop effect on your plants, the camera picks up more on the mosoon like effect now created. Great post...very funny! Take care
Fantastic! I wish my pump put out that kind of pressure. Nice idea putting the pineapple in the hanging basket, too.
3000 litres eh? My puny water-butt that collects water from our roof gutters holds a mere 350 litres. Still, I don't exactly have to trek for miles when watering my plot!
your photos certainly capture the essence of the tropical rain-forest.
Sounds like a great investment. The second photo looks a bit like a hurricane shot lol. In Northern Ireland we have basicly free water but that's likely to change in the future.
isnt it wierd that now the rain has stopped (well almost) that the ground dries out so quicky and the plants are parched in no time. I love that shot with the water exploding around the pineapple. I never thought about a pineapple in a basket - what a great idea!
Watering the garden is one of the greatest pleasure in my life. I know exactly how you feel, Lovely Miss Ali!
Ooo Hazel I am loving the watering. Although in strict accordance with Murphy's Law, it's been raining every day since I bought the pump. I so control the weather.
AA you are so right, the earth just dries out in a flash, it's amazing. The pineapples in a basket were the idea of a friend of mine, I have three of them. A few in the ground too, all planted at the same time. It will be really interesting to see which ones do better.
Kelli it is a good investment here, I know it's been raining a lot here lately, but I'm sure it will stop soon and we'll go for months without. Your garden must flourish with all the rain you get there, if I ever get to Ireland I think I'd just lay down and enjoy the green green grass.We have crackly brown stuff here in winter!
Mark, your butt holds a lot of water! Ooo butt that's funny.
500m2, it's a bit too much pressure I think, the hose is in danger of popping off at the tap bit. I think I need a fatter hose. I have to wrestle with it a bit, fireman style.
Gary, yes, very monsoonal!
Suzanne... I'm kind of glad that I am not the only one. Three is a bit fabulous though, I wish I had got another one while they were giving them away.
Daffodil, I'd give my fingernail clippings for a dam and firefighter hose. LIfe would not get any more fulfilling than that!
And Bok Flock - thank you!
Enjoy your pump action!
Absolutely great photos too - well done.
Oh Susan, pump action hose gun, what a title that would have made! I missed out on that one :)
I have been working a fair bit and haven't been able to use it much, come morning though, I'll show no mercy...
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