Estelle’s Rain Garden

Estelle and Iris help Dad look at the garden after a rainy morning. A puddle has formed beside the path, while the small empty flower bed nearby looks almost dry. Dad hopes to plant water-loving flowers there next week.

Estelle suggests carrying the puddle water to the bed in a bucket. Iris tries a small cup, but the water soon runs back into the dip beside the path. They would need many trips to move it all.

Dad asks them to notice which way the ground slopes. They crouch on the dry path and look across the soil. A low ridge between the puddle and the empty bed is stopping the water from spreading towards it.

Together they make a shallow channel through the soft ridge, with Dad checking its route. They keep away from the walking path and use small hand tools only in the empty soil where no plants are growing.

A little water begins to travel along the channel, but it stops behind a small clump of earth. Iris points to the blockage. Estelle lifts it out with her trowel, taking care not to dig the whole channel deeper.

Now water spreads into the empty bed. A smaller puddle remains beside the path. Dad explains that the bed will hold some rainwater for the plants. They will still need to check it during very dry weather.

After the puddle drains, they pour a little water from the blue watering can to test the route again. It follows the shallow channel into the bed. Iris watches carefully to make sure none is running across the walking path.

Estelle draws the channel in Dad’s garden notebook before they clean their tools. “We helped the water find a way,” she says. When the flowers arrive, she wants to help plant them where the rain can reach their roots.