Martha Retallick's Monthly Newsletter | June 16, 2026

Preparing for Monsoons

Although Arizona's summer forecast calls for above-average rainfall, the big storms aren't here yet.

So, it's a great time to get ready.

Since monsoons can appear suddenly and with great ferocity, tree trimming is an excellent idea.

Periodic trimming keeps trees strong and healthy. That's a plus when 40 mph winds are blowing a monsoon storm into town.

Although this mulch pile wasn't big enough to cover my entire yard, it was needed in several spots, including this one...

A Meditation on Mulch

In the Southwestern desert, we like mulch. Here's why:

1. A layer of mulch creates a protective layer that helps retain soil moisture by reducing evaporation.
2. Soil temperature regulation. Mulch acts like a cooling blanket that keeps the soil from heating up like an oven during the day. It also keeps the soil cool at night.
3. Mulch improves soil health as it breaks down. It provides organic material that enriches the soil, enhances its structure, and increases its ability to retain moisture.
4. Weed elimination. Twenty-two years ago, when I bought my house, I had a weed problem. I was told that if I put mulch down, those weeds would go away. And, over time, they did!

And now, let's take a break from the monsoon preparations. It's time for a trip!

While Yours Truly spent Memorial Day Weekend here in Tucson, my City Nature book was in a much cooler place.

Matter of fact, that book was all the way out on the East End of Long Island, in the Hamptons!

City Nature was one of nine books included in “Poolside Page Turners,” a book discovery program for hotel guests

This program is curated by Bedside Reading, which places books in real-world environments like luxury hotels and inns like the 1708 House.

​Kirkus Reviews calls City Nature “A beguiling ramble full of captivatingDIY information and arresting visuals of flora and fauna.” ​ Order the Book

From the Water Harvesting 101 Podcast​

The National Weather Service just released its 2026 Arizona Monsoon Outlook. Here's your friendly neighborhood water harvester's take:

2026 Arizona Monsoon Outlook Jun 8 · Water Harvesting 101 5:14   ​

Let's hope for summer scenes like this one...

After many weeks of saying that I wouldn’t plant my summer garden until monsoon season, I relented.

In this episode, I talk about dry season garden setup, what I’m growing, and, of course, where that garden water is coming from.

Garden Gambler May 18 · Water Harvesting 101 6:20   ​

Here's what my summer garden looks like...

Prefer to listen and learn? Water Harvesting 101 is also available as an audiobook.

Bonus Birds

Triple-digit temperatures are here!

Are they stopping the neighborhood birds? No!

The white-winged doves are still calling out while displaying their plumage...

And when a white-winged dove succeeds in finding his special someone, here's his next job...

Nest building isn't just for white-winged doves. The goldfinches have also been busy...

Here's the completed goldfinch nest, which is in one of my two ironwood trees...

Bonus Rainstorm

The summer monsoon season began yesterday, Monday, June 15. It runs through September 30.

I'm pleased to report that the season's first storm came stomping into town at 4:30 Monday morning. This rowdy wake-up call included thunder, lightning, and torrential rain.

My garden approves of the weather...

In my front yard, there was just enough rainfall to generate downward flow from the downspout, through the swale, and into the harvesting basin.

This is just the first of what I hope will be many summer monsoon storms. I'll keep you posted.

Questions? Comments? Let's talk! I'm looking forward to hearing from you! ​ Contact me!

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