The Worst Floods from Irene and Lee with Ken

When it Rains…It Floods

Those of you who have followed my trowels and tribulations over the years in the New Jersey garden know that this place is an island in a river, and so, it is subject to the weather (what garden isn’t?).
I stopped counting floods after the twelfth event.
Hurricane Irene was supposed to hit Sunday night, but Saturday night, August 27, was the main event. The five-inch rain gauge overflowed, so I do not know how much water hit the island. The rain stopped on Sunday, but then the tail of the downgraded “tropical storm” swung around and the wind picked up. Midday – we lost power. The sump pump in the basement, which basically pumps water to an outlet, which itself was underwater, couldn’t work. The furnace, water softener, lawn mower – all submerged.
The tall red peach fell over (to the right of the bridge in the photos: June 2009, and August 28, 2011), as did the rare contorted English oak tree. I righted these – we’ll see if they take. The water in the garden was three feet deep by the house, and up to five feet over the wall.

The water started to recede by Monday, August 29, but even then, it was higher than any flood to date. As of Tuesday, still no power. I left for Brooklyn. I have to admit, these things are exciting, but I could live with a little less stimulation.

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