The poet E.E. Cummings once said spring was "puddle-wonderful."
It is. He also said spring is when "the world is mud." He was right about that, too.
If your yard is more swamp than garden lately, is there any way to take advantage of this springtime dilemma that is both a blessing and a curse? What about a rain barrel?
A rain barrel can turn lemons into lemonade when gardening—free water at your disposal. Just remember to keep the lid covered when it's not raining to help keep mosquitoes away. It's also a good idea to put netting over the downspout to your gutter to help keep all the debris out of the rain barrel. You also might want to clean out your gutters regularly, but nobody wants to be told that! Maybe a garden gnome will take pity and do it for you.
