We have a whole backyard to pick up today.
When I heard the thunder, I raced out to take down some big hanging baskets and move big potted plumerias up onto the patio.

The wind was so fierce, that it just swept off everything in its path.


I had two 5' tri-fold metal screens anchored to hide the rain tank. They blew down on a 10' begonia and my big Allspice tree, both in large pots.

Sorry you got the high winds, Sandi! Wasn't so bad here...smaller branches mostly I'm picking up. At least we got some rain here, even if it did come with a power outage. A friend who lives on the outer NE side of San Antonio area didn't get any rain...it all went around her place.

We did get rain, lots of it. It came down so fast, it probably just ran off. The gutters filled the big rain tank to overflowing. The little greenhouse on the side of the tank had it's door blown open. No telling what's taken up residence in there now. Glad you got rain and no big tree limb damage. We saw lots of huge limbs broken off around our area.

Omgosh! I hope you can save your damaged plants. That's so heartbreaking. But no structural damage, I assume. Wow, just wow. I'm sorry this happened to you, your plants, and all your hard work.

Thanks Cheryl, it could have been worse. Everyone's out front cleaning up their tree and leaf mess. Our daughter lives 3 miles from us and they only had a little wind and no rain.

Sandi,sorry about your plants and the mess you were left with, but you did get some rain.

Bubbles, What time was the storm in Austin? The Houston area got a bangeroo directly from Huntsville around 5:30 pm yesterday. Of course it missed our little town (north of Houston) and went West. All we got is noise, lightening, and thunder. We could use the rain but not the high winds.

Yep, Margaret, we did get rain!

Wow! So sorry for that mess. What an effort to clean it up in this heat & humidity.

You peaked my interest when you mentioned a large potted allspice tree... I have a small one (Pimenta dioica) and love the fragrance of the leaves. Wondering if you can tell me a bit about yours? How long you've had it, what type of soil, do you use if for cooking or just ornamental? Kristi

What a shame, after you've nurtured your plants along. Did everything survive?

Karen

I've had my Allspice for about 8 years. It's always been in a pot with potting soil and compost. I keep it in the pot because I don't leave it out in winter. I keep it in the hoop house on the patio with heater. I don't think it would take a freeze. I'm going to have to trim it back because the main trunk is damaged. I think it'll be okay.

I've never used it for anything except having visitors to the garden smell the leaves and try to guess what it is. I don't think anyone has ever come up with an ID on their first few tries. One of the men in our garden club grinds the bark (?) of his and makes allspice powder.

It is fun in the scratch and sniff garden.
I have used leaves in a spice tube when making peach pickles or watermelon pickles although I can't honestly say its' flavor stands out when cooked.
To smell a crushed leaf will make the taste buds water. YUM!

You are right, it won't take the cold. Mine goes in the greenhouse for winter.

Hoping some good will come out of your storm damage. Kristi

I used to have "an area" where I had smelly plants. I can't remember at the moment, what was there now, except the Rootbeer Plant (Hoya Santos or Piper auritum). Still have the plants, but they are spread around.

Thanks Krisiti! I think if you can't take disappointment, you really shouldn't try to grow anything.

Wasn't that rain GREAT! We got a bit over 4 inches over the whole thing. Guess it's over now. It really felt like fall, too! Cool!

DH said we got a little over 5" combined. The lake area got a lot more. We were at the lake Thursday and left right before the rain. Horseshoe Bay, across the lake, had over 8" that afternoon! Was nice not to have to water and feel cool again outside. So nice this morning. Fall is definitely in the air.
Grandson's birthday party was Friday afternoon. It either rains, or there's a hurricane for his party every year! It rained all morning, but let up right before the party at 5.

There was the most amazing rainbow and sky at dusk.Texas sky!!!!

That rain was phenomenal. Everything in my yard looks happy to be alive today.

We emptied the upper pond because of the mosquito scare and it's full again! It also has some duck weed and half of a water lily in it. I think the raccoons had a party last night!