That makes for a pretty picture.
But, if you look beyond the close up, you see an entirely different picture. A reality check.
As most know, Texas is in an extreme drought. I water the garden close to the house, but where nature rules, the plants are suffering.
The damage to the hardwoods is striking. Large, beautiful, old hardwoods that have lived for many years are now dead or dying.
Smaller trees died months ago.
The pines generally have a longer tap root, so they continue to live, although they are showing signs of stress.
I wonder what the woods will look like after this drought with no hardwoods left. I wonder if the pines will make it. I wonder how the wildlife will fare.
I wonder about the places that have been even harder hit. I wonder how many inches of rain it will take to soak down to the roots of these large trees.
I wonder how much longer this drought will reign.
I wonder all this as I see the discrepancy between my garden area and mother nature's.
It's been awful everywhere. I am seeing big signs of stress here but know that Texas and Oklahoma are in awful shape down there. Let's hope that some of the things we are seeing will manage to survive for next year.
ReplyDeleteCher Sunray Gardens
My heart goes out to all of you there in TX and other areas that are suffering this horrible, long drought. I hope and pray you get some rain relief soon.
ReplyDeleteHugs ~ FlowerLady
Oh my gosh, Holley, the damage and killing that the drought does to the trees is heartbreaking! Even though I know that you have a drought in Texas I haven't thought what that really means for the trees in nature. Hope that many of them will survive and the shedding of the leaves is "just" a survival technique for most of them. REALLY wishing you some rain! Thanks for the reality check, even though it was not a pleasant one!
ReplyDeleteChristina
Holley it so painful to see trees dying...Mother Nature has a plan or a message I fear...hoping the drought will end for you soon...
ReplyDeleteThe drought seems really bad. Hope you get some rain soon.
ReplyDeleteLooks strange for east texas. when conifers show drought damage they are usually dead, unfortunately. I'm seeing a lot of yews showing drought damage in Kansas.
ReplyDeleteThe drought looks like it's causing loads of damage already. And all those valuable trees lost!
ReplyDeleteJust shows how much our gardens depend on us the gardeners.
Oh, what a shame. This is so sad, I hope the trees are shedding leaves to cope with the drought and that soon refreshing, gentle rains will give you all relief.
ReplyDeleteOof--it hits hard to see hardwoods suffering like that. We really do create cushions around ourselves with our gardens--and hopefully provide helpful oases for some of the wildlife, too. What a poignant post, Holley.
ReplyDeleteHolley, thanks for showing this perspective. Although it is devestating to see, I'm starting to get a real sense of how hard this drought has hit your part of the world.
ReplyDeleteCher - I do so hope the fall rains come this year. If we don't get rain soon, we will lose all the trees. Already I've seen people clearing out their dead trees - it's a strange thing here, since trees are such a large part of the landscape.
ReplyDeleteFlower Lady - Thanks. I know that eventually the rains will come, and this will pass, but the consequences are not going to be felt for a very long time.
Christina - Texas has small droughts often, but this one has lasted longer than most, and when I saw the two biggest oaks on our property die (they've been there since I can remember them as a child), my heart has been breaking. I've been waiting for the rain to come, as I know it will eventually, but it's too late now for so many trees, and for so much wildlife, too.
Donna - Yes, mother nature always gives back. Trees will spring up from seeds, and we will have woods again, but it will take many years to recover.
Kelli - The 10 months between October and July have been the driest in Texas since 1895. Some areas are more than 20 inches below normal. The high temperatures have not helped, either.
greggo - I had heard it was hard to tell when a pine was dead, that when you thought it might hold out, it was too late. I hope that's not the case here. My dad has acres of pines planted for his retirement, and he's of the age he probably won't reap any benefit if he has to re-plant.
Mark and Gaz - I hadn't thought of it that way, but yes, our gardens do depend on us. I water mine because I have so much invested - time, energy and money - but it's also small area of retreat for insects, bees, and hummingbirds.
Karen - I wonder if we got a really good soaking if any of the hardwoods would live. We would need real rain - not just a drizzle. Of course, not even a drizzle is in the forecast right now. Next spring we will know for sure what has been lost.
Stacy - I think that's why I haven't tried to run off the armadillos. Most years I would be trying to run them off, but I feel sorry for all the wildlife this year. I'm wondering how this is going to affect the bees and butterflies.
Marguerite - Yes, I felt obligated to post since now it has affected the wildlife and landscape for years to come. I know it will rain eventually. But now I wonder how much will be lost before the rain does finally come.
It sounds so devastating. I do sincerely hope you get some rain very soon. It must be so frustrating and discouraging as a gardener.
ReplyDeleteI so hope the rains come for all of you out west and down south. It is sad to read of the devastation all over the country and world. Today on my walk at the Falls, I too noticed many dead trees. I was really astounded considering we only had one month of no rain and high temps. It really is beyond belief what is happening elsewhere.
ReplyDeleteSage Butterfly - It is discouraging for everyone here. In driving around, I have been shocked to see the amount of trees and plantings that are dead. And of course, that only intensifies the threat of fire.
ReplyDeleteGWGT - Sorry to hear about the dead trees in your area. So sad to lose such stately and large plants.
Crossing my fingers for rain for you and other friends/relatives I have in TX.
ReplyDeleteBumble Lush - Thanks. I'm crossing my fingers, my legs and my eyes! ;)
ReplyDeleteDear Holley, Thank you so much for the reality check. I complain about the weather here, but it is nothing like the devastation you are experiencing. I add my prayers to yours for rain. P. x
ReplyDeletePam - Thanks for your prayers. I try not to complain too much, but this has gone from needing some rain to permanent damage. The weather has been odd all over this year, I think, and I wonder what the consequences from it will be.
ReplyDeleteIt is grim to see large old trees die before your eyes. And hard to think of wildlife battling to get thru till the next rain.
ReplyDeleteWhat sort of water restrictions do you have? Will water supplies last for people? What is the source of the water you use to keep your garden going?
Diana - I am worried about the wildlife, too. I've heard it will take generations for it to recover. The majority of cities and towns have implemented some sort of watering restrictions. There was a 5 year drought in the 1950's, and Texas responded by building numerous lakes after that, mainly for drinking water. For instance, Dallas gets their water from several reservoirs. I am not on city water. We were previously on a shared shallow well, and we drilled a new well this year. Without the new well, my garden would be toast. Even with watering the plants, we are very conservative with our water. Golf courses and tree farms are the biggest water users around here.
ReplyDeleteI noticed trees in our area of NE Texas turning brown and I'm hoping that is their defense against the heat and that they aren't actually dead. That's just my hope, I have no idea if there's any accuracy to it.
ReplyDeleteStoBlogger - I hope so, too. We drove to Oklahoma the other day, and the entire way through NE Texas I noticed dead hardwoods. I hope the rains will come soon and hopefully some of them can be saved. Unfortunately, for any to be saved, we need a good rain now, and it's just not in the forecast.
ReplyDeleteYes, it's a sad site to see. Our tree in front, a very large maple is starting to show signs of stress as well. Maybe mother nature knows best and we will just have to wait and see. Hold the hope!
ReplyDeleteOh dear...seeing those nearly brings tears to my eyes. I hate seeing trees die. Once I came home and found my neighbor had all her beautiful trees cut down and I DID break out crying! So sorry...
ReplyDeleteCottage Dome - I would advise watering it very slowly for several hours. Even our crape myrtles that usually get no water during the summer are having to be watered, they are in such sad shape. I hate to lose the trees in the woods - but there is nothing I can do about them. I would also hate to lose the trees I've planted, and hopefully they can be saved. Good luck with your maple.
ReplyDeleteHanni - I think most gardeners hate to see trees dying because we know how many years it takes to have a mature specimen. Sad to see these old trees lose their lives.
Diana - In my comments above, I stated tree farms are a large water user. I wanted to clarify that these are not tree farms where the trees are planted for harvesting. These are tree nurseries where the trees are in buckets for sale. Thought I should make that clear.
Cottage Dome - I would advise watering it very slowly for several hours. Even our crape myrtles that usually get no water during the summer are having to be watered, they are in such sad shape. I hate to lose the trees in the woods - but there is nothing I can do about them. I would also hate to lose the trees I've planted, and hopefully they can be saved. Good luck with your maple.
ReplyDeleteHanni - I think most gardeners hate to see trees dying because we know how many years it takes to have a mature specimen. Sad to see these old trees lose their lives.
Diana - In my comments above, I stated tree farms are a large water user. I wanted to clarify that these are not tree farms where the trees are planted for harvesting. These are tree nurseries where the trees are in buckets for sale. Thought I should make that clear.
Oh dear! How nice if it rains!
ReplyDeleteMalar - It would be wonderful if it were to rain! I would, of course, take any amount, but the trees need a good soaking!
ReplyDelete