Sunday, August 29, 2010

GOOD-BYE AUGUST ~ HELLO SEPTEMBER

DO NOT LOOK DIRECTLY AT THE SUN. SO...HOW WAS YOUR AUGUST?
AUGUST 2011 READ BELOW
Just one year ago I thought the summer of 2010 was hard to endure. Now looking back, it was a bad. But not hideous. Reading back I seemed so hopeful that this was just a bump in the road. Now after a year of enduring drought I'm worn out hoping for rain. Tropical Storm Lee promised much but delivered little: just .04" of rain. About the same as getting the sidewalks wet. Hoping for a better winter with rain.

THE AUGUST OF 2011 IS NOW ON THE RECORD BOOKS FOR:
*MOST NUMBER OF DAYS OVER 100 (30 OF THE 31 IN THE MONTH)
**HOTTEST EVER RECORDED
***2ND DRIEST EVER RECORDED WITH JUST .09" OF PRECIPITATION
****THAT MAKES TWO DIFFICULT AUGUSTS IN A ROW.  OUCH!
*****ENTIRE FORESTS OF PINE AND HARDWOODS ARE TURNING BROWN AND NEAR DEATH.
******I'M GUESSING 21 INCHES BEHIND ON OUR RAINFALL IS A NEW RECORD
*******I'M PREDICTING THAT 2011 WILL BE THE DRIEST YEAR SURPASSING 1917.

AUGUST 2010 READ BELOW
I'm no wimp. I've gardened in Texas all my life and expect August to be hot, humid, and sometimes dry. BUT I"M TIRED OF WATERING! We are now on day 31 waiting for a good rain.
For the records, our garden got rain 3 days with .10", .15", and .40" inches for a total of .65" This makes it the 3rd driest in the 100 years of record keeping. (Now watch it rain 2 or 3 inches tomorrow!!! OK by me!)

As far as temperatures go, they had already said by mid-month that we were in the hottest August on record. And the second half was all 97s and above practically every day. No relief at night either with temps at or just below 80 (that's right 8....0) every night. Average for this time of year: 92-72 each day.

Still, I was happy to observe the resilience of the flora and fauna in the garden. I have about 7  drinking spots for wildlife which makes this garden a mecca for thirsty critters.
Took some photos early this morning before church. I don't usually point my camera directly at the sun and it  makes me wince to look at the photos.  I'm glad for the shade, but GOOD-BYE AUGUST!


Still...it's a beautiful month in a Tropical Garden
That's it from here.
How was your August?

8 comments:

  1. Sounds like one hot dry month for you. It's hard when you're not used to so many days without rain ... very different story for us. We're used to months without rain ... you learn to become very, very water-wise in the garden.

    Lovely photos, by the way! Hope the rain comes soon ... and your Autumn is a better experience. September will be our first Spring month here ... so we're heading into the horrid time of year. You'll hear me complain bitterly about the heat, humidity and sunlight very soon.

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  2. I enjoyed your pictures of the sunlight coming through the leaves. I hope that you get some rain soon! The lack of rain must be awful. At least you have drought tolerant plants, so you're prepared for it!

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  3. Too short! We have had no measurable rainfall since July 3rd...they say that should end tomorrow. Fine with me as long as the sun comes back later in the week.

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  4. We got about 14 minutes of rain this evening, which is a drop in the bucket compared to what we need. I will be more than happy to say goodbye to August!

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  5. August brought the heat to SoCal too, after a very uncharacteristically cool June/July. Today was beautiful, mild and breezy again. What a weather rollercoaster it's been this summer!

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  6. Our august was rainy, windy and rather cold, so it feels lika I have been cheated for the last part of the short swedish summer! So I hope for indiansummer in september!

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  7. I just found your blog and it looks like my own blog has a Texan doppelganger! I can't wait to read more!

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  8. Probably not as bad as your area but it was the hottest, driest August I can remember here in Connecticut. I hope the fall is better.

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I always appreciate your comments & questions! Happy Gardening from David/ Tropical Texana

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