It wasn't pretty but boy was it ever sweet relief. This shot was just before I emptied the gauge the first time.
I couldn't get a thing accomplished around the house from watching out the windows. It had been so long since we received any measurable rain. I watched out the front window as the water crept up the drive.
Then I would dash to the kitchen to look out toward the Circle Garden. You can see around the edges that the water was gathering. The center of the Circle has been built up over the years with mulch and compost. These newly installed plants are loving this rain.
Now we can look out the patio door windows. The patio was full of water. All of the flower beds around the patio have been raised over the years too. With so much rain I doubt it would make much difference.
I decided to take a little break in my office. I looked out and there was a small creek between our house and the neighbors.
During a lull in the action I went out to check for any downed limbs etc. We kept hearing limbs hit the top of the house.
I didn't get far away from the house due to full paths.
This morning I emptied another 1.25" from the gauge. I had quite a bit of debris to pick up. One of the limbs came down on our Lemon Tree and dislodged 3 of the 4 lemons that were on it. I hope the remaining lemon grows in girth since there aren't any others remaining on the tree. The odd thing was I could only find 2 of the loosed lemons. I wonder if an animal came and got one. Hmmmm
This is the first time I got to use my shiny new wheelbarrow. It is much larger (6cu ft cap) than my previous wheelbarrow. Yet it is as easy or easier to use due to having 2 wheels for stability and a poly tray to keep it light weight. I got the entire mess from yesterday to the truck with one trip.
All of this rain was pushed into our area by the tropical storm Gordon. I hope that all of my gardening friends are finally well watered yet not over watered. If you need rain it looks like a hurricane is going to hit the East Coast this week. I think we are caught up with rain now but I wouldn't mind to get a bit more after a few days. All the plants are seemly beaming. I hope your garden is happy too.
We are out west - no measurable rain since spring, but it sure looks like you got some! That's a lot of water. Glad your plants are happy and that no more damage was done than a couple lemons.
ReplyDeleteYes, we are blessed to not have more damage. Some places lost whole trees due to the soggy ground and winds.
DeleteHi Lisa, glad to see you are still writing. A few of the very longtime bloggers we blogged with I see now and then. I keep two blogs alive, barely.
ReplyDeleteGlad your lemon tree isn't hurt badly. We have moved (to Katy/Fulshear, Texas), here my lemon tree has broken my old record of six by having seven.
I've read that we should hand polinate each blossom most would produce a lemon. Our friend outside Milton Keynes in the U.K. and I were lamenting the sad demise of the bees. I jokingly told her she could hand polinate and she did. She had a lot of lemons. There is a YouTube video to show how it's done using a QueTip.
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Hi Jim, I was glad you popped around today. Texas is a completely different habitat. I would like to see more of your part of the country.
DeleteI have noticed that my lemon tree blooms the most when it is inside the house. I realized that this spring and hand pollinated it. I think that is why I had even 4 lemons on the tree. I did have more earlier in the summer though. The squirrels like to get them when they are about as big as a grape. They surely don't taste that good but they do like them. I will look for the YouTube video to see if I am doing it right.
I envy you the rain , Lisa, but I hope you don't get more than your property and your roads can handle. We haven't received any measurable rain since March, not that that's unusual, but last year's winter rains were VERY light and odds of a better rainy season this winter seem to be 50/50.
ReplyDeleteI hope you get the much needed rain this winter Kris. It would worry me silly if I lived in your environment. Maybe I would get used to it. Having lived in the Midwest all my life it would be a difficult switch.
DeleteI have the similar wheelbarrow with 2 wheels, it's comfortable in use. I see the rainfall you have had was great for all plants, your picture of a creek surprised me, Lisa.
ReplyDeleteYes, that creek always surprises me too Nadezda. It only appears when we have a tremendous amount of rain at one time which is not often. Before they built this subdivision there was a natural creek that ran through here. The topography has been changed but Mother Nature can't be fooled.
DeleteWe are smiling down here in Texas too. 4" of rain. Like you I was watching the event through various windows, especially during the heavy downpours. Already the weeds are responding so plenty of work when this all goes away.
ReplyDeleteSo glad you got some rain too. It is too bad that the weeds are so quick to respond.
DeleteEnough to make a difference but still a bit disconcerting to see it flowing like a river. There seems to be a possibility that the hurricane could sweep north and come up into Wisconsin after traveling up through Illinois. Let's hope not, esp. as they are talking about rain stalling in one spot like it did in Texas. Ugh.
ReplyDeleteIt always seems like feast or famine when it comes to rain.
DeleteLisa it looks like you received the same kind of gift we had here from Gordon. It was the perfect rain because it was steady and soaked in slowly. Tomorrow to be partly sunny...I am sure everything growing will have new life. Hugs!
ReplyDeleteThe weeds were especially happy for all this rain. Ugh...
DeleteHave a good week.
Glad you got some much needed rain. Friday after work we had quite the rain storm too. I was driving in it and didn't get any photos, but I kept wishing I could have. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteYou are most welcome. I bet it was rough driving in that rain. Do be careful.
DeleteWonderful Lisa. I hoped and prayed you would get the rain your garden so needed.
ReplyDeleteSome lovely shots, shows the full impact of the downpour.
We are mild, sunny here with the odd shower. Suits me and the garden.
Have been listening to the BBC news with regard to the hurricanes approaching USA. Stay safe my friend.
We have had a couple of near perfect days after the rain. Cooler than normal and a splash of sunshine. We will be going back to more normal weather with temps in the upper 80's this week.
DeleteAfter the hurricane hits we might get some more rain this weekend. I am not complaining. We can use this rain. I hopefully won't have any desiccation of plants this winter if they are well watered in. One can hope.
I will soon be off garden touring. Can't wait. More on that later. Have a great week.
We also got some rain from Gordon, but not as much as you! So glad it came to you after such a dry period. I remember when we had a bad drought the year my youngest son was born. He was three months when he saw rain for the first time. He reached out and touched the raindrops coming down and laughed out loud! So did I. I imagine your delight watching the rain was similar to ours.
ReplyDeleteSo glad you got some rain. Doesn't it seem that it's always too wet or too dry, never just right?
ReplyDeleteHi, what's the meter for?
ReplyDeleteI loved the pictures.
Good week's continuation.
janicce.
Glad you are safe and hope you are not in the pathway of Florence ~ I am northeast so no problems yet ~ Son is in NC and riding it out ~
ReplyDeleteInformative photos you have shown us and hope the sun shines soon!
Happy Day to you,
A ShutterBug Explores
Hope all is well and you are drying out ~ ^_^
ReplyDeleteHappy Day to you,
A ShutterBug Explores
I'm glad you got rain and all is well at your house. Your description of running from window to window reminds me of how I feel when we have a summer without rain. When it starts, I'm like the settlers in those old westerns just wanting to stand there and soak it in.~~Dee
ReplyDeleteI was out in the rain a time or two. It felt wonderful. I had a little taste of what the plants thought.
DeleteWhat Dee said. We so seldom have drought years here, but 2012 was horrible and I responded exactly as you and Dee did. This summer has been the opposite, and it's been wonderful to finally have a week without rain. Tonight a gentle rain will be welcome in the garden. I'm glad you and your garden are OK.
ReplyDeleteWe haven't had one of those rainy summers in years. I guess they are a thing in the past.
DeleteHow exciting to finally get rain and I can totally relate to your running from window to window to take it all in! After the hottest, driest summer on record, our rains returned earlier than usual.
ReplyDeletepictures are beautiful.
ReplyDeletethank you for sharing