I very clearly remember that collision of those huge storms! And the sense of thankfulness at having come through unscathed. Remarkable picture you've created, and it's so descriptive of the activity at that time.
Hmmm...digital painting. Something else to investigate....mercy sakes I must get away from this machine..............
Texas heat
Okay, gardening brought me another solution this morning -- I wore my "sloggers" to work, and carried my shoes. People who don't garden are missing so much. It was pouring again this morning, and the ditches are pretty much full.
AND I LOVE IT!!! Okay, it will be a steam bath for the next week or so after this lets up, but that's what air conditioning is for.
And the media really does play up a tiny percentage of Houston. Saw on the Weather Channel this morning they've spotted a gator in one of the flooded bayous. Nature will do what nature does, won't she?
GD -- stunning use of contrast!
And HAPPY MIDSUMMER EVE, everyone!
Raining here, steadily, but not hard. I am ready to get outside and do some work in the yard!!!
Brigid--It would be a steam bath any way so why not at least get the rain. And you know how the media is--they thrive on that sorta thing. In Aug and Sept we will be glad we had all this rain. At least the Houston, Beaumont (SE TX) area is lush and green like its supposed to be. Glad you noticed the Summer Solstice and a happy one to you. I have a friend that has a huge party every year for summer and winter solstice. Not enough people really pay attention to these things, anymore.
Debbie
I agree. Now no one on this thread has an excuse, though. Y'all get out there and dance under the moon tonight! Or if you can't go that far, look up to heaven and say, thanks for summer and the garden! On Thursday the days will start getting shorter. Probably won't have to get out a sweater for a while, though. :]
Dang! and I was all set for that sweater weather! LOL.
Me, too, April. Just hold on for... another eight months... and it will get here!
Thanks everyone for the kind words . . . they're greatly appreciated :)
Still do'n a rain dance over here,
GD
We are in Madison County and I hate to see the rain end here. We have been in drought for so long. Lost a lot of pretty trees. We've gotten a little over 31/2 inches so far. Could use a lot more.
Lin
Lin only 3 1/2 inches? & GD still none? I am starting to grow mold behind my ears!
Yep. Only 31/2 so far. Yes I've been keeping up with the weather news from your area April. Did you get rain again today? A little north of me they got six inches. Weather man in our area says we have another good chance for more rain this weekend. I'll take it! ;)
lol @ grow'n mold .... yeah . . . still nothing damp in these parts - aside from what I got wet with the hose ;)
OH WAIT?!?!?!?! Was that thunder I just heard? :) :) :)
Maybe this drum beat'n and fancy dance'n is finally pay'n off :)
hmmmmmm is that a storm cloud I see in the background? Must be . . . looks like that little Yeller is make'n a mad dash for his home sweet home as he leaves my "ouwie" cactus flower and heads south.
Ewww I like your pretty cactus bloom! Very pretty! Just keep dancin' and maybe the rain will come.
Oh man I am sorry that you guys are being treated like the red headded stepchildren! Ouch all around you getting rain.
Yes we got rain today, pretty steady until just an hour or so ago- not hard rain mind you, but steady. GD sometimes the rain dance needs a little help, this is an old method passed down from my dad's family in Russia:
Ok, here goes, at midnight, in the moonlight put a dead chicken in a brown paper bag and swing the bag around your head 3 times while you are thinking of rain...oh and do this while hopping on one foot...and it's not necessary but wearing a hula dancing costume makes it more amusing for anyone who might be watching from a distance. LOL. Sorry, I don't have any old Russian rain dance for you, but you never know, it might work!
April, what can we do to stop the rain? Don't have a dead chicken or a live one, how about some frozen chicken tenders? Oh, and I only have plastic bags, the stores really don't ask anymore.
Too bad there's no rain dance that calls for mosquitos and fireants. We could do that rain dance and pull the rain from there to the dry, dry east.
Well it's still not rain'n here . . . for some reason. o O (Hmmmmm ... maybe I grabbed the wrong flute or drum?)
And I even tried dance'n at midnight. . . The dead Russian funky chickens in brown paper bags swing'n around my head didn't even work :( lol
But hey, I'm still hopeful and may try the ever faithful neekid rain dance today? :D
At least the temps are a tad lower and it's slightly overcast this AM . . . come onnnnnnn rain :)
Oh GD think you are out of luck! But that neekid rain dance is worth a shot- remember to share the photos-LOL.
Woke this morning to clear blue skies and oh that lovely hummidity! Folks who don't live here don't understand hummidity! and oh man my snail vine is pouring all over the ground! My rain lilies are bloomin', grass is about a mile high in the front, but too wet to mow- it's going to take me forever because it's so high!
april, i recently planted rainlilies and I don't see any action. will I have to wait til next year? yep, mowing this week is gonna be a bear.
Vos- did you plant bulbs? Are they in the sun or partial sun? I know that I have copper rain lilies planted in the shade and they don't do much of anything- the ones that I have planted in full sun, even though they are supposed to be part shade are the ones that go crazy. The 1st year mine were slow and bloomed much less- I was kind of disappointed but the 2nd and 3rd year have been TADA! Also some seem more florifous (sp) than others. The super big ones were only so so last year, but better this year. My med. size deep pink are amazing this year and were very good last year as well.
I know that I read somewhere that if you plant them from seed it will be several years from planting to flowering- and of course, I am heavy handed w/ fertilizer. Almost everything got lots of balanced water sol fert. last year, lots of superthrive and then anything that was a bulb got bulb fer. in spring after all the amaryllis faded and then in fall when I was trying to use up what was left in the bag. My daughter & I are at opposite ends when it comes to fertilizer but in the past, when I was young and stupid I felt like fert was just one more way to separate me from my money- now I believe it's vital and in most cases the directions given are on the safe side so I tend to give more, put more down- I realize there is a danger there, but so far I have not burnt anything but my grass- um yes that was a bit embarassing as the neighbors are always watching my yard! LOL.
got from a Brent&Becky sale really cheap bulbs, planted in full sun. Not even sprouted. maybe I'll have to do some digging and see what's there.
Humidity City!!
Spent 10 minutes just picking up the fallen tree limbs - came in soaked. At least the temp wasn't too bad - yet.
Oh I love it when I walk out w/ my morning coffee and come back in soaked after sitting a few minutes! UGH!
Vos- they are probably fine, like I said, the 1st year mine were nothing and though I didn't pay much thought it was money wasted. The bulbs are probably immature and will be fine next year. You might get a few blooms this year but next year will be, TA DA!
oh goodie! i luv those kinda surprises
SOGGY! That's the weather report, and it'll probably stay that way for a while. I'm SO glad it rained, but as usual it just made the heat wet. I sat in a patio chair that I'd put on the lawn and the legs went into the ground about four inches. The cat seemed to enjoy the noise I made when that happened. As long as I'm amusing the cat!
Pics huh? :O Ain't that how rumors get started? lol
Now I know who to watch for hide'n in my bushes :D
Well dang . . . even the neekid rain dance didn't help. But it is cloud'n up a bit again, so maybe it did help and just taking time to develope (like the pics) ha ha
Well I don't know how the rain missed you! We have been having clouds floating in and out all days, some dark and ominous, but no rain. Things are pretty soggy out there.
Shoot I was sure you wouldn't know it was me in the bushes!! LOL.
Not as humid as the Houston area but I was dripping this morning when I was outside feeding plants and re-potting. I did a little weeding till I gave out. :( Ewww our lawn looks terrible. It will be a big job getting it all mowed. I pooped out and came in and took a shower.
Well I believe Houston is the hummidity capital of Texas- we have to be known for something! Still not as bad today as I thought it would be. Our lawn looks awful too, I was supposed to mow Saturday but w/ the rain and all I didn't get to the front- and of course w/ all the rain it is grown like crazy! Also noted a few ant hills this morning!
A perfect day for summer solstice.
Debbie great photo!
Love your Texas Star! I had my first bloom the other day too. My plants have lots of buds.
Thanks--mine have been blooming like crazy since May. That one just got planted this spring from seed started in January.
I must agree with - hummidity capital of Texas being H-Town . . . at least it was when I lived there back in the early 80s and I don't suspect it's gotten any better.
The Bushes Have Eyes - sounds like something out of Hollywood . . . lol
Still no rain . . . that last dance I did must'a spooked the clouds away . . . looks like they've gone around me again :(
Great pic DMJ, thanks for share'n
Hey I've got a question concerning my Kangaroo Paws plant that some of you fellow Texanz may can help with? . . . it's not do'n so well, could it just be the Texas heat? Maybe I should start a new thread for that? Yeah I'll do that and include a pic and more details.
it luvs the heat, what it may not like is humidity and/or overwatering.
Wow that's great Debbie! I'm always late getting some of my plants started. I stay pretty busy. I help and look after my senior parents that live right here close and that takes a lot of my time.
It was overcast almost all day today here in Austin (Lakeway). I was able to work for about 5 hours outside without getting overheated. I even got sprinkled on one time....wonderful!!! I was spreading mulch (I did 20 huge bags today) and the weather was perfect!!!
Connie I worked outside today too. Boy is my face red! I didn't wear my hat. I got my new rose bush potted up, potted some coleus cuttings, and my red geranium. By the time I got finished I was really hot!
I didn't have the good fortune to get sprinkled on. ;) I ordered a dump truck load of mushroom compost this year. Been saying I was going to do that for a long time. This was the year. LOL It's wonderful stuff for all my plants.
Can you elaborate on the mushroom compost? Never heard of it!!
Connie the Monterey Mushroom Plant is located in Madisonville, Tx. That's where they grow and produce mushrooms. They have a whole lot of compost for sale. I don't know what all the compost consists of but I do know a lot of it is horse manure (aged). What ever it contains it sure is good stuff and has really made a difference with my plants. Wal Mart stores around here have bagged Texas Mushroom Compost for sale. A lot of gardeners around here drive their trucks to the plant and buy truckloads.