Thank you for downgrading to a category 1 and watering my garden for me. I can't remember the last time it rained for 11 + hours. My rain barrels are full and my plants are happier than they've been in a long time. You shook the trees in my neighborhood and scared a couple of my dogs, but we're all still here. If you could please have a chat with Mother Nature and send some rain to the states struggling with drought, that woud be awesome!
Sincerely,
Tammy
It still very windy today but the garden is full of hungry insects. The caryopteris was full of little skippers.
I have a pot of rue on my patio and more in the garden. The rue in the garden was cut back severely in early spring and is much happier than these two pot-bound plants but both are full of swallowtail caterpillars. This rue is headed to the garden this fall.
'Maraschino' salvia
'Autumn Joy' sedum
Aster ericoides has just started to bloom. This dry, partially shady bed is being redesigned this fall.
I wonder if any birds took shelter in this birdhouse during the storm?
The pink obedient plant in my front garden fell over in the wind. They are being transplanted to a different bed this fall when I redesign this part of the garden.
I secured this trellis using a bungy cord. A young pipevine planted last fall grows up this column.
Thanks for putting in a good word to Irene to talk to mother nature about Texas.I was thinking this morning...wish we could just have a 'do over' and start with spring again but this time get lots of rain. :)
ReplyDeleteGeez...look at all your caterpillars! Also, your autumn joy looks like it is going to explode with color.
So glad that you got some much needed rain without too much damage! I wish some of it would have found its way to Georgia but no such luck. We're certainly not as bad as Texas but honestly, I can't remember the last time it rained...maybe May? That is a fabulous bird house and great to see all the caterpillars busy munching away!
ReplyDeleteAmy and Karin - I've seen big expensive pots of rue in with the perennials at garden centers but it's much cheaper to grab a little pot from the herb section. Plus, it takes heat and drought pretty well.
ReplyDeleteKarin - I had no idea Georgia was still so dry!! I hope/pray rain is on the way.
I'm glad you didn't get as much damage as they thought you might. That is a lot of rain!
ReplyDeleteI've never seen roses like those. They look like peonies to me. I love them!
I didn't notice as many caterpillars on my rue this year, but they sure have been enjoying my parsley.
I'm glad you've gotten lots of wonderful rain out of this storm. Some of the other reports are not so good:)
ReplyDeletegood for you. im jealous, about the cool weather that is. It has been in the high 60's at night here. Nice. Today 100 and 64% humidity.
ReplyDeleteI can just imagine the coolness of the rain and what it would be like to listen to it fall for 11 hours. A teensy bit jealous but so happy that someone has full rain barrels ;) Hopefully, your weather will settle down for a while...don't know how many more of these 'surprises' my parents or your dogs can take!
ReplyDeleteThat's really good to know that you are bidding Irene farewell. I just commented that my rain barrel is full,much to my surprise. Must have rained throughout the night.
ReplyDeleteLove your gorgeous looking caterpillars. They are colorful.
So glad you made it through the storm OK, and that your garden didn't suffer. And I'm glad nothing bad happened during the earthquake either. What a week!
ReplyDeleteThe storm was a surprise being downgraded, Not a drop here at all, but thankful the way it turned out. I love your birdhouse even if you don't have renters.
ReplyDeleteThose Sceptre d'Isle roses are stunning! I'm glad you got some much needed rain. I keep hoping a little, non damaging type hurricane will get into the gulf and head for Texas and maybe send some rain up toward us along the way. BTW, I love that birdhouse!
ReplyDeleteThe joke going around here was that Irene was downgraded to an irish summer! In spite of everything your garden is really beautiful, a natural haven.
ReplyDeleteExcellent to hear the storm brought you rain and not damage. Have to love the full rain barrels.
ReplyDeleteYour garden has plants and bugs I haven't seen much since I moved to the PNW. I really miss seeing massive amounts of butterflies and their larva.
That Obedient plant is beautiful, love it.
Wonderful that you Irene was behaving herself when she arrived and brought you much needed rain. My trellises could have used some help from bungee cords during the storm - they all were lifted out of the ground.
ReplyDeleteI wondered the same about my birdhouses - did any of the birds take shelter there? I put my hanging feeders in the doghouse (which our dog, who died in June, never set foot in) thinking they might find the seed and shelter both. No evidence that they found it though.
I'm going to be looking for rue for my garden!
So glad Irene didn't cause any damage to you and yours! :) If I was a bird, I would hide out in that house. Definitely.
ReplyDeleteWhat great news! I wouldn't have considered that Irene would bring good news with her but this is a pleasant surprise.
ReplyDeleteGlad to read that hurricane Irene only gave you a "mild treatment". The swallowtail caterpillars are amazing on the rue. It is so great that you are providing a food source for them! I really love your caryopteris plant and your bird house!
ReplyDeleteHappy Gardening!
Christina
I am also glad it was downgraded and was not as bad (for us) as it could have been. I like your letter...hope it makes it to the powers that be. It would be nice to have some balance for everyone...
ReplyDeleteJennifer@threedogsinagarden
ReplyDeleteI am glad that you made it through the storm and that your garden got some much needed water. The roses in the header are incredible, BTW. I thought they were peonies when I first looked at them.
Thank you Tammy for stopping by and leaving such sweet sentiments. The weatherman is forecasting midtohigh90's and 20% chance of rain for this weekend...keep praying!!
ReplyDeleteSo glad you didn't take a direct hit, but it's good that your garden has been able to quench its thirst. I wish Mother Nature was a little more equitable with the weather this year. It seems so many areas are so parched, when others drenched, or cold. It's almost raining here this morning (very heavy fog drip), on the last day of August, in 'sunny' California, and cold!
ReplyDeleteHappy plants and full rainbarrels is a good outcome. Glad you came through it okay. I love that birdhouse!
ReplyDeleteRue, huh?
ReplyDeleteWe've been raising Anise Swallowtails on fennel, and have hatched quite a few.