Yes, as the Turtle walks across the pond bottom, its claws/feet dislodge bubbles which correspond really well to the width of its body. Neat!

It is hot, hot here too, but we do get some rain here and there, but we need more good drenchers.

I do wish I could send some of this rain up to the withered corn fields in the midwest. As for me, I'm losing my garden one inch at a time to the lake. My sweetbay magnolia tree is now three feet out into the lake. My neighbors pier where my boat is tied is now submerged. The wetland garden is underwater as well and the lake is within a couple of feet of the sticky picky garden. Part of the ornamental grass garden is also flooded. Just four days ago when I cut the grass, I mowed a 48 inch strip between all of these gardens and the lake. Normally, these gardens are 20 feet from the lake. Just about all of the back yard is soggy with an inch of standing water down in the grass. It is just too wet to do anything. If it rains even a little bit tomorrow, we will have to drive through standing water at the entrance to the subdivision. Here is a look.

Jim

Oh my!! I hope the rain stops very, very soon!!

According to the weather guessers, relief is on the way. Two drier days coming up before the "usual" pattern of afternoon rains re- establishes. Ha! We got no rain whatsoever today - first day in a week I can say that. I'll have to turn on the irrigation tomorrow because it is our one day per week we're allowed to water.
Meantime, I have starts of some nice water lilies if you're interested?? :biggrin:

Peacock gingers, been trying my best to get a picture of the flower color. Getting close. But the leaves are the best feature anyway.

So sorry Jim. Pretty dramatic! Will this cause any permanent damage or only if the water doesn't recede soon? Thanks goodness for the OC!

I posted a ton of daylilies etc. this morning. http://forum.crazyorchidlady.c...
Been too hot at night to sit by my computer. No air conditioning in the barn (all weird sized windows) and it been around 95ºF for a few days, not very New England-like at all. We got rain night before last, but we could use a daily shower, it's been weeks.

Very pretty Elaine! Lovely Waterlily!

Kathy, the truth is I don't know the extent of damage that will occur. The magnolia is a wetland plant but how long it can stay submerged is anyone's guess. The wetland garden will be fine but the sticky picky garden is full of agaves, yuccas and other desert plants. I don't think they are happy. Ornamental grass is another question mark. My turf grass will be full of weeds and fungus but I can regain control with chemical sprays. The good news is rain chances are going down for the next few days. Ha, as I typed that I heard thunder.

Elaine, water lilies may be at the top of my wish list after all of this. I could grow them about anywhere in the garden right now.

Jim

Hoping for the best, Jim. Gardening is not for wussies!

Hey Noah, are the waters receding for you? Or are you digging up plants two by two? Watch out for gators, too.

Plant native iris, Colocasias, Gingers and Cannas down there by the lake. Don't mind wet feet, and they'll help to suck it dry. My C. Blue Hawaii respires a ton of water through the leaves. I came out last night and noticed water dripping into the pool - coming from the tips of the leaves! Drip, drip, drip. No wonder I'm having to water it morning and night!

I got a little golden prize from the garden last night - a pineapple I grew from the top of one we ate 3 years ago! It was perfectly ripe and delicious, too. Usually just before they get to this stage some raccoon finds them and they disappear! I have another plant coming along for next year's treat, and will plant the top of this one as well, of course. Two years out it will bear fruit again, barring cold winters.



Also my Brazilian Red Cloak is putting on a nice show, and this trumpet vine that I fight all the time is blooming nicely, too.

I don't have the Brazilian Red Cloak in my garden but I know folks who do and they love it. I may have to reconsider as I love the flower. That pineapple looks lovely.

Jim

Right now at our place the Wild Bergamot is blooming and with these particular plants come the amazing Hawkmoths!
The first time we spotted them some years ago we were reminded of small Hummingbirds, as the little Hawkmoths flit from flower to flower and hover with rapidly beating wings. ( in the 5. picture the wings are but a blurr!)
Amazing little creatures. I used my Telephoto lens and snapped away.



And this little Toad just sat there on a stone, I thought it was kinda cute.

Not from my garden, but one of the gardens at Lowe's
Jim, I can't believe how much rain you've had in Florida...feast or famine there, I guess.
Ursula, your prince charming is a cutie...if he's single send him to NC please!

Lindsey, doesn't he need to be a FROG to be kissed?

I am loving the the choice of hardy Waterlilies this year! And I see a couple hundred baby Paradise Fish!

Ursula, my visitors are limited lately to frogs, lizards and turtles!

and pretty butterflies !

And it sure is pretty!

In the catagory of 'unplanned expenditures...'
I'm having 4 trees taken down, these are on the side of my house and
have been knocked ever closer by the crazy summer squalls . There
are some native Magnolias in that part of the wild edge of my yard and
I'm hoping that this will give them a chance to take off.

Heh, better take them now before they do real damage, right?

Looks like it will be a relief to have those big fellows gone, Lindsay. We had a jacaranda with 3 trunks slanting like that over the house and pool cage when we moved in. I suffered agonies before deciding we had to have them all taken out. They're so beautiful, when they bloom with their fragrant blue flowers, but weak trees that would have fallen right on me where I'm sitting now. I still get seedlings popping up from those trees, 3 years later, too. We look forward to pictures of those magnolias blooming next spring!

We've been nearly 2 weeks since the last good rain, but finally got some today - my Red Cloaks have huge flower bracts that are all flopping over. I finally got a picture of one of the funny little white funnel flowers when it was open. I think it's one of those things that pops flowers in the morning, and sheds them before the heat of the afternoon.