The African winds are blowing Sahara desert dust across the Atlantic Ocean to the shores of the United States. Some see this as a terrible nuisance. Some see it as a health risk (which it definitely can be). Others–like me–see this as a garden gift from the heavens. Or universe.
Why? Because the dust blowing across our land is filled with iron and phosphorous and a host of micro-nutrients. In other words, plants love it! Including the Amazon rainforest. The Saharan dust delivers the phosphorous needed to replenish the minerals leached by heavy rainfall.
As a Floridian, I recently learned that the area in South Florida known as the Redlands–home to numerous farms–derived its name from the Saharan dust. It’s red. Who knew?
If all that wasn’t enough good news for you, the Saharan dust storm prevents hurricanes from forming due to the dry air and wind shear that come with the dust. Gotta love nature!
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