Despite a few rainstorms in recent days, the monsoon has been drier than normal this year with a rainfall deficit that is having an impact on many residents in Southern Arizona.

Places like the Tucson Botanical Gardens and Tohono Chul Park have been forced to do a lot more watering during these hot summer months to keep some of their plants alive and healthy. Even some recently planted cacti have had to get special watering since there haven't been sufficient episodes of rain to ensure their survival. In addition to having to use more utility water, the lack of rainfall also means that less water can be collected in water harvesting systems which could be stored for later use.

Local gardeners are hoping we'll get more rain in the last days of the monsoon, which is officially over at the end of September. They also look forward to the winter rains which normally provide approximately half of our annual precipitation. If you are planning to get some plants for your garden, experts suggest you try native or drought-tolerant plants since they will use less water and be able to deal better with droughts or dry spells, such as the one we're experiencing.

National Weather Service - Tucson

(Story by Tony Paniagua)