Everyone must have a rain catcher. They can be purchased at a hardware or lawn and garden store. They can be simple or artistic. Mine looks like the old fashioned water spigot on a house. It is orange and showy along with my flowers.
The reason I say have a rain gauge is because clouds drop different amounts of rain throughout the city. The weather people can tell you one thing, but in your yard you could have a different story. Having a rain gauge will serve several purposes. One it will be entertaining. You will enjoy going out after a rain and seeing how much rain you received. Two it will be educational. Have your kids or grandkids read the catcher and then record the amount of rain received. It will help them with measurement and charting. They will know the dry and wet months of the year. Three it will help you know when you need to water your lawn and garden and when there has been enough moisture.
The gauge most likely will be glass so remember to bring it in come late October. Then in the spring it can be one of your first rites of passage from winter to spring as you put it back in your soil. Plant the gauge away from over-hangs so it catches all the rain. Don't have it by a down spout. Make sure it is not in the path of a sprinkler system. Attempt to keep your pets away from it. Male dogs might give you yellow rain.
Enjoy your rain catcher. They make meaningful house warming gifts. You will now be keeping track of mother nature's gift of life to us.
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