Texas is Exceptional....

As a Native Texan, I have, of course, always agreed with this.  Texas is Exceptional.

But now, we have a rating of Exceptional, in an area we'd just as soon not be.

Exceptional Drought....

Not all of Texas is in the exceptional category.  But, close enough.  That area right in the middle is us.

Central Texas.  

We haven't had real rain for almost eight months.

We bought this house in the fall of 2008.  By June of 2009, the Deer Grove looked like this.  Then, the rains stopped.....for three months.

By the end of August, it looked like this.  Dry and dead.

Then, the week after Labor Day, the rains started again.  We even had water in the creek, for the first time.

The rains came often enough that winter that the Grove was nice and green by the next June.

It was drier and browner by the end of summer....but, still enough grasses to put on a show.

This is the way the Deer Grove looks this morning.  No tall green grass...no pretty wildflowers.  

Dry, brown....scary.  

I'm afraid to think what the August picture will show.  

The heat has been exceptional, too.  And, looks like it's not letting up, any time soon.

I sure hope the weather wherever you are is just the way you'd like it to be.

We'll be trying to keep things alive...here in our Exceptional State of Texas.

Happy Gardening...

~~Linda~~

Visitor...

Miss Maggie was pitching a fit outside this morning.  First I thought it was squirrels...they drive her crazy, actually sitting on the fence, teasing her.  Or, maybe the baby deer.  Since they're not much bigger than she is, we think she thinks they're dogs.

But, nope...it was this guy.

I don't know what he was after.  I put out the saucer of water after he showed up.  I thought maybe he was looking for water.  But, he didn't look all that interested.

He's quite handsome...don't you think?  I mean,,,for a turtle.

Last year this time we had another visit.  Is it the same guy?  Why does he come?  And, from where?
Another puzzle to contemplate, in the garden.

I went out a little while later, and he was gone.  Hope he found a good place to hang out.

Happy Gardening...
~~Linda~~

Aah...That's Better....

I finally worked up enough energy to get out here and get the weeds out.  It was a gloriously cool morning...the perfect time to work in the garden.

Now....isn't that better? 

The weeds are history...for a while.

I'm finally crying 'Uncle' with the squash.  The Squash Vine Borers win! 

There is perfectly good squash at the Farmers Market.  Wonder how they deal with these guys?

The tomatoes are doing pretty well.  This is a 'Juliet' variety.  I read they set fruit, even in the heat.  So far, so good....just have to stay a step ahead of the birds.  They eat a hole right in the center....just a hole.  They don't eat the whole tomato.

Red Spider Mites have invaded the tomatoes.  I treated for them...so hope it works.

So much for planting marigolds to take on those pesky spider mites.  Not a one on the these.

The Cilantro is blooming.  I know you're not supposed to let it do that...but, we don't really like Cilantro, and it looks pretty.

The spineless prickly pear keeps putting on new growth.

And, it keeps being chomped. 

But, look....new growth on the Castor Bean.  I just figured it was a goner.  ALL the leaves had been eaten off.  This must be one tough plant.

There are quite a few tough plants out there.  With the lack of rain, it's surprising that there is anything still alive in the Deer Grove and Elli's Meadow.  But, some grasses and a few hearty wildflowers are hanging in there.  

We started Stage 2 water restrictions.  It'll take a bit more effort to keep things alive.  We waste very little water here at Patchwork Garden.  But, we're thinking up even more ways to conserve it, and still keep the garden going. 

We really need some rain.

I hope the weather is just the way you like it where you are.

Happy Gardening...

~~Linda~~

Life is Good...

Happy first day of June.  How was your May?  Mine was one I don't want to repeat.

If you read my last post, you know I had pneumonia.  Still fighting it some, but things are much better.  Get a pneumonia shot....you don't want this stuff.  It really knocks you down.

We did have about an inch and a half of rain.  That gives us a little more than two inches....Since October!  But, we're grateful for whatever we can get.

Last week, our neighbors across the street were having a lot of electrical problems.  Two of the houses were having dimming lights, ten to twenty times a day.  So, the guys above showed up.  Seems there was a water leak under the power box on that side of the street, making it short out.  Dangerous stuff. 

It seems that power box is connected to the one on our side of the street....the one inside this once lovely stand of Primrose Jasmine.  One of the guys came to the door and told me he needed to 'trim a path' into the shrubs, to access the box.  I said fine, but speak to Elli next door...she planted them and would want to know.

Then the 'Tree Experts' showed up.  I know they were experts...it said so, on the side of their big orange truck.

This is their idea of 'trimming a path'.  Just cut down half of the shrubs.

I could be wrong.  But, I just really don't think this one is going to come back.  And, yeah...the water guys are back today.  Not sure why they've run a hose from the water hook-up across the street, to run under the power box on this side of the street.  But then, I'm not an expert.

And...while I'm whining....the Castor Bean that was growing nicely, with hopes of getting really big this year, looks like this today.  All the leaves are gone.  These are poisonous.  Somebody had a big stomach ache.  Not sure this will come back, either.

But, enough of the whining.  Good things happen, too.  Like this new swing Mr. P. gave me for Mother's Day/Get Well.

You can sit and swing, and get a whole new view of the Grove.

Oldest and youngest Texas grandkids

Or, you can hang out with your big brother, before dinner.

The veggie garden is coming along.  Lots of weeding needs to be done, but little energy for it, yet.

The squash is hanging in there, even though the squash vine borers attacked.  I sat on the ground, and slit the vine and got the ugly borer worms out...covered the wound with dirt, and so far, so good.  We've even had some squash already.

The green beans are doing really well.  We've had beans twice.  Not sure how many more harvests we'll be getting from these.

Cucumbers are blooming.

Along with the volunteer zinnia.

And, cosmos.  I like flowers in a veggie garden.  They bring pollinators, and just look pretty.

I need to bring in these tomatoes, before the birds get to them.

Inside the fenced yard, the Mexican Oregano seems to like it's new spot with more sun.  The deer don't bother this much...so, I might think of more of this, next year.

This Hyacinth Bean is blooming.  I'm thinking they bloom later in the season.  Of course, with the temperatures we've been having, it may think it IS later in the season.

And, again in the fenced yard, a Purple Coneflower is finally beginning to bloom.  The deer aren't supposed to like these, but they ate all the ones outside the fence.  Remember, they don't eat Castor Bean, either....right.....see above.

And, these are popping up everywhere.  More mouths to feed....but, they are cute, and fun to watch chasing around like big puppies.

So, all in all Life is Good.  I hope you feel the same.

Happy Gardening...

~~Linda~~