The day after we realised we had no open soil for our proposed library garden, our country reminded us why we’re renowned for forty shades of green in our lush fields. Yes, rain.

When I was growing up my Dad would remind me of our poor farmers and their urgent need for crop irrigation every time we missed out on yet another summer day trip thanks to oodles of water pouring from the sky above. This did not make me feel better about a postponed visit to the elephants in the zoo. I think he did it partly to tease me and partly because his grandfather had been a farmer and had drilled the need for rain into his youthful skull at the same age.

Rain is important to gardeners too, but it doesn’t help wannabe gardeners who are staying late after work to create a courtyard space behind a pu...

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