When you live on a river you know that flooding is a possibility. But when you live in Texas you also know that drought is probably more likely. So we planted natives and xerics and hope for the best. Well, as you know, we've had an "exceptional" year here. I would have been better off planting bog plants down by the river. I'm going to post some pics of the back - early spring first when it looks like things might be under control.
This pic things are getting out of control - the larkspur specifically, but how I loved them.
This pic the river is the thing out of control- and the weeds because we were out of town and too wet, etc.
This pic shows the waterfall a little closer. At its highest, the river was within a foot of the top of the waterfall.
oh my, sugarfoot....what a progression of photos ya got there.... Everyone seems to be dealing with all sorts of positives and negatives from all of the rain. My gardens are sooo pretty and healthy right now...but the dadgum bugs/caterpillars are munching away,lol. Hope all of that water isn't affecting your home, etc.
Melanie
Now we're learning what can take being under water for a while and what can't. It didn't seem to phase the Mexican petunia at all. The frog fruit looks dead on one side of the pond, but not the other. Of course, the bog plants are thriving and all of the waterlilies are doing well except that they look funny because the stems on the leaves grew about 3 feet trying to reach the top of the water. The passion vine had a little time to recover before the next crop of gf cats hatched. The verbena bonaires looks damaged but like it might make a comeback. In the circle garden around the tree, the daisies, salvia, gallardia, nepeta, frostweed, and zinnias all look dead. The asters, goldenrod, Mexican mint marigold, penstemon and sunchokes look like they may make it. All in all it looks pretty awful.
We are very fortunate that our house is about 25 feet higher than the water got, Melanie. And most of our gardens are above the flooded part. So the biggest problem there is getting them under control, ie cutting some things back that a have gotten way too big and dealing with a zillion weeds and seedlings. This year reminds me of the year I lived in Florida back in the 70's. Everything is growing rampantly!!!
One positive thought fr the flooding...You get a new layer of silt & dirt. Of course, there is nothing left that needs that new layer if there was any speed of movement of the water. Who knows? Your plants might be down here by Knolan or Trios.
You had it looking real good & promising. Guess Mother Nature want to transplant or rearrange your design.
Bless your heart Linda, I bet you have it all looking good in no time.
Sugarfoot, I wonder how many of the neighbors plants you'll find growing in your yard?:)
I don't know, Silver, no one else around here has bothered much with Mother Nature. She is always delighting us with surprises - or not. I always have to wait until something new flowers or otherwise shows what it is. That's why the bog is full of cattails. And I think it'd take a lot more than a flood to get rid of them. But she's also sent over Mexican Hat, butterfly milkweed and lots of other wild flowers.
It'll be interesting to see what shows up.
Hi Sugarfoot, glad you were not there to see the Brazos turn into the Mighty Mississippi. It was something to see. We spent 8 days with no power, on a generator and the river was at my front gate over the driveway. LOL We are NOT water front. That was the longest flood as the rains would not give up. After the 3rd day we could get out on 4-wheeler or horseback. Then Possium Kingdom opened the 4th flood gate and it came back up again. Geez! I thought, I AM TIRED OF THIS. We had all the momma deer and the Bambis up here just hangin out. We have a family of Red Hawks that are teaching the young ones to hunt. Just the sound of that will make you go out and watch! Too awsome! Had a family of Red Fox that was way too kool. And then the squirrels were really crazy talking in the trees and knocking limbs on your head. I think that flood really ran all the critters up out of the greenbelt and they just lived with us. It was something to see! Everything is back to normal as it should be now but it was an adventure. The Hawks family is doing well and makes me smile daily. Yes life on the river is never dull.
Did the floods affect any of your gardens? I'm still listing what made it and what didn't. A cactus that I had planted down by the pond is still as happy as can be when about 60-70% of the plants that weren't bog plants went toes up after being underwater for 5 or 6 days. Sounds like you had a lot of fun with the wildlife at least. We have a gazillion deer, lots of squirrel, "evidence" has passed through and occasionally see a red hawk. Oh, and lots of raccoons. It must be great fun to watch the hawks nest. I'm glad the river didn't get to your house. I'm trying to decide whether to act as though this will never happen again or that it will probably happen again next year.
Linda
Hello Sugarfoot,
Just wanted to say thanks again. Come back anytime. Love your garden pics. Gonna go check out The Star Telegram to see if I can find more. Looks like you have a beautiful place. Tanarae
