Here Comes The Rain

It's been raining hard off and on for the last 36 hours. This is fantastic for us here in Brisbane. We're expected several days more rain, which is even better. While I'm told it's unusual, so far, no one here is complaining. Sure, a little gloomy, but we all understand just how important this is to us. Thursday night, just after sunset, it started, and kept on raining for nearly six hours. There were periods of heavy downpour, so loud on the roof it drowned out all sound in the house. I remember saying, "Now that's a good rain!"

A funny thing about this house, though. There's no tank to collect the rainwater. I just don't understand it. Well, I do, but I don't. I've seen how much water flows off the roof in a hard rain...lots and lots and lots. And to see it all going down the drain (literally) or into the ground is just wrong. I do understand how the owners of the house would feel it's an unnecessary improvement for a rental property, but I sincerely wonder about the long-term viability of any house in Australia that doesn't collect rainwater from the roof. I'd be happy to use it to wash the Landie or water the garden or even to water the lawn. But, no! It all goes into the drainage behind the house, eventually, never to be seen again.

Walking around the neighborhood, it's clear that rainwater collection tanks are the future here. Most homes that have been renovated in the last five years have them. Many homes sport little signs on the fence that rainwater is in use. That's an important detail, actually. Since there are still significant water restrictions in place, having a verdant lawn is impossible unless you are flouting the water restrictions, or you collect and use your own. So, a minor industry has grown up to create signs to assure one's neighbors that you are indeed a responsible citizen and using collected rainwater to ensure your lawn looks like a putting green.

But that just brings me to the ridiculous concept of a lawn in Australia. Even though this is a subtropical climate, there is no way to sustain a lawn, that symbol of British stability. Lawns in the UK make sense, given the climate there...it rains a lot there. Not so in Australia. Most of the natives haven't cottoned to the idea of xeriscaping, using native plants, or perhaps considering other forms of ground cover than Kentucky Bluegrass.

Apart from lawns, one thing that does separate a desirable and sensible home from a silly one is the use of native, sustainable trees and shrubs. Having a house surrounded by trees -- palms and mangoes and gums -- was one of the key factors affecting my choice of places to live. Another was having a timber frame house with lots of windows. Even on the hottest days, most of my home is in the shade. And I can open all the windows to catch the slightest breeze and move the air through the house. Overhangs on all the windows and a deck that is shaded throughout the day are key. I found some fantastic homes, but often they were made of brick or cinderblocks, or sat in the center of an acre of lawn with nary a scrap of shade even possibly touching them throughout the day. Ack! Houses like that would be ovens during hot Australian days and would retain their heat well into the wee hours. Mind you, having some warmth might be handy during the Winter, but Winter is a few months...it's toasty here the rest of the year. And while 30 outside is fine, an interior heated to 35 or even 40 for weeks or months on end is just no fun.

So, anyway, the garden is watered, the house is dry, and the garage is fine. I'm perfectly fine with downpours for the next four or five days. I'd prefer a weekend where I could go outside and hike or bike, but I'll find something to do. And the trees and shrubs, and yes, even the scraggly lawn, drink in all the water they can. I've put buckets outside to catch as much rain as I can store, and we're all looking forward to adding some water back into the catchments and dams.