Martha Retallick's Monthly Newsletter | July 14, 2026

The Rainfall Fan Club

**The best day in the life of any cistern owner: It's raining!** And the rainwater is filling the tank. Copyright © Martha Retallick. All rights reserved.

Is this rainstorm what my poor, sunburned lemon tree needs? Yes!

It also needs something else. That need relates to the fence-mounted wooden bracket.

More on this needy topic in a moment. First, let's join the Rainfall Fan Club.

Here's my front yard during that record-setting June 17 rainstorm, which dropped .64" in my gauge. Note how busy the downspout, drainage swale, and basins are...

**The goal of these water harvesting features?** To redirect rainwater away from where it isn't wanted -- like inside the house or next to its foundation -- to where it is. In this example, my yard plants need a drink from above, and they're getting one! Copyright © Martha Retallick. All rights reserved.

Are the basins there to create a swimming pool in my front yard? No!

Those basins are teaming up with wood chip mulch to aid with rainwater infiltration and moisture retention.

Over time, the rainwater will sink into the ground, where it provides liquid nourishment to plant life as it percolates into the water table.

Here's another rainwater harvesting concept: Planning for overflow...

**The basin below the swale is rapidly filling up. What if it does?** For this scenario, you need an overflow basin, which is shown at right. During this storm, it's not collecting overflow, but it's doing a great job of catching rainfall. Copyright © Martha Retallick. All rights reserved.

Back to that poor, sunburned lemon tree.

Know what really helps it feel better, in addition to periodic rainfall and regular watering by Yours Truly?

The answer is... Shade!

**The lemon tree shade cloth is what** **US Netting** **created from my hand-drawn sketch.** The mounting bracket was designed and installed by Chris Hokin. Copyright © Martha Retallick. All rights reserved.

Although the cistern can't wait to tell you about how its stored rainwater is being used, let's check in with the podcast...

Support the Water Harvesting 101 Podcast!

It’s crunch time in Tucson! The crunch comes from the sound of fallen mesquite and ironwood tree pods underfoot.

They’re all over town -- and they may also be in your yard.

What can we do with these pods? Details here...

Crunch Time

Jul 6 · Water Harvesting 101

6:05

Tip: If you want to attract birds to your driveway, nothing works quite like ironwood seeds...

**Mourning doves enjoying an ironwood seed snack.** Copyright © Martha Retallick. All rights reserved.

Okay, cistern, thank you for being so patient.

Let's see what your stored rainwater is nourishing...

**Cucumber flower.** Copyright © Martha Retallick. All rights reserved.

**Cucumbers grow from vines that twine around anything they can find.** Here's a twine closeup. Copyright © Martha Retallick. All rights reserved.

So far, my cucumbers have been extremely camera shy. And they're not ready for harvest.

However, it's a different story with the Swiss chard greens and the okra pods...

**Harvested okra and Swiss chard from my backyard garden.** Copyright © Martha Retallick. All rights reserved.

Bonus Birds

Since the spring, my place has been quite the hangout for white-winged doves. Here's another guy who's in the midst of a plumage display.

**White-winged dove displaying his plumage.** Copyright © Martha Retallick. All rights reserved.

For him, the display effort paid off. He and his wife are currently nesting in one of my ironwood trees.

Here's another couple, whose developing friendship was interrupted by an approaching thunderstorm...

**While one white-winged dove takes a wait-and-see attitude toward the approaching storm of July 12, the other one says, "I'm outta here!"** Copyright © Martha Retallick. All rights reserved.

I'd like to conclude with this advice for Rainfall Fan Club members: While it's fun to stay outside and experience the full fury of our summer monsoon storms, don't.

Our latest storms have been especially fierce, and they're best viewed from the great indoors.

Not that this doesn't present opportunities for abstract photography...