Rebuilding

This has been the worst summer heat and drought wise since 1980 here in Texas.  My garden suffered major damage because we could not keep enough water on it.  I am afraid I have lost two hardy hibiscus and I know I've lost at least two antique roses most likely a third.  The City of Tiny Town Texas also decided to start a major road construction project on the streets bordering our house.  The mess is indescribable.  I've never seen this much fine, silt-like dust in my life.

Between the heat, drought and construction I sort of just gave up on the vegetable garden this summer.  The only things that survived were the pepper plants. Everything else just died including my amazing tomato jungle.  It has been heartbreaking.

We had our first major rain in months last night.  We got at least an inch of rain, probably a little more.  Unfortunately, I did not have all of my rain barrel taps shut and one of the barrels was blown over before it could fill  up.  All I managed to catch was 55 gallons in one of the tanks.  STINKS.

The weather has cooled off considerably yesterday so I was back out in the garden full force.  I payed for it this morning when I could barely get out of bed I hurt so bad.  The cure for that soreness was more gardening of course.  An hour of weeding and I am all loosened up.

As I look around our area I see so many dead trees and shrubs.  It is going to take a lot to get our landscape back in shape.  This is one of the reasons I am so happy that Michael Nolan and Laura Mathews started The Regrow Together Project.  It is a worldwide effort to help gardeners who have lost or been harmed by our crazy weather be it from drought, flood, heat wave, hurricane or tornado.  Obviously, my efforts will be to help those who have been harmed by our extremely hot dry summer.  Please join us in helping gardeners worldwide regrow from natural disasters.  We are all in this together.