Sorry about the ACL Concert tonight ( and yes, I have relatives there), but we're welcoming the approaching rain again! I walked around the side of our house to blow the leaves off the walk and saw a tiny orange glow on the right side of one of the big red pots. 'Looked like something stuck on the Persimmon tree. Can you see it?






I would have missed it had it not been for a little sunbeam honing in on it. My Bird of Paradise decided to make an entrance. They usually bloom during the winter in the greenhouse. This one is stuck in that pot with bromeliads. Maybe it resented being so crowded.

Wow your garden looks great Sandi. We got a little rain here, and my plants look alive again. How old is your Bird of Paradise?

I honestly don't know how old it is, Cameron. I have a huge one in the ground, and a couple in pots. Thanks for the compliment. My garden really doesn't look very good for October. Usually, this is the month that everything "pops." The lack of rain and the intense heat of our summer has taken a toll on most of the tropicals. I lost a few ferns that I'd had for quite a few years. The heat was just too much.

This Bird's Nest Fern is about 8 or 9 yrs old. It's been through a couple of hail storms and our last two hot, hot summers. It's bouncing back again.

Sandi: Wow, that first photo is gorgeous!! Love the BOP, congrats on the bloom and I especially love that huge Birds Nest Fern. Great Growing!!

Well your garden looks a lot better than mine lol. I nearly gave up watering because it wasn't making much of a difference Its sad that you lost a few of your ferns. The Bird's Nest fern is so lush and beautiful, and it sounds like a tough plant. A lot of the flowers that I started from seed died, and even a couple of established plants died. My Texas Sage kept wilting, so that lets me know how dry its been lol.

Thanks, Lin! That fern was gorgeous in March. 'Not so much in August. I thought I might lose it. It looked like it was cooking.

Ironic that I had to move these onto the covered patio because the rain was melting 'em. The fire pit didn't drain as well as I thought it might.

Cameron, that's the test of a true gardener. You just keep planting and hope for a little rain and a cool breeze.

I had a huge Birdsnest Fern like that years ago and lost it to a freeze one winter. I still have a couple decent sized but nowhere near as large as I'd like.

Nice container planting ... are they all Haworthia's or Aloes or ???

The fire pit has a little bit of both, Lin! I entered them in a flower show in June. Always intended to replant them separately, but didn't get around to it.

Ferns are usually my most forgiving plants, but not this year.

I have three plants that have done well in my garden despite the drought; Cast iron plants, oleander, and Russian sage.

"Be careful what you wish for, you just might get it!" It started raining late last night and continued in waves. At 4 AM, I came downstairs and watched the rain come up to the patio. It just never stopped all night. At Barton Creek Mall, out by us, the rain gauge measured 12.18" this morning. The creek was out of its banks this morning. We had at least three water rescues (one by helicopter), just out here during the night. We're very fortunate to live high up on this limestone outcropping I always complain about.

They're calling it a "rain bomb." Two separate systems converged right over our area and stalled. I'm very sorry I jinxed the ACL Concert. They canceled it today because of the flooding. We're expecting more rain tonight.

We haven't been allowed to fill our fountain all summer because of water restrictions. Mother Nature took care of that!

It sounds like you sure got dumped on. Your yard got a big drink, that's for sure. It sure is beautiful! And a BOP bloom! Wow!
We got showers early this morning though early afternoon. But my rain gauge tipped over so IDK how many inches we got. I just know it came just in time as the lawn was needing a drink. Now I get to worry about fungus and Brown Patch.

Guess you got what we had overnight, just not as much! They only got an inch at the lakes where it really is needed.

I won't know what to do in the evenings this week when I'm usually watering pots. I actually pulled stuff away from the patio yesterday so they would get a little rain. I went around dumping water out of pots today. Can't win!

Is it corn gluten that you spread to kill brown patch, or is it just for weeds?

Randy Lemmon is our local plant expert and radio personality. He says cornmeal is ineffective on Brown Patch. Seems there are only chemicals that will kill Brown Patch or Take All Patch. The thing is, if you don't kill it, it lives in the soil and will return each year. It seems only fungicide chemicals will do this. Brown Patch won't harm the lawn, it's just ugly. Seems to be true since we battle it yearly. They are bringing back a 17-letter chemical fungicide his year but it will be too late for this season whenever I find it in stores. Take All patch, however will take over and make you replace both lawn and 3" of soil. It takes a different chemical all together. All this fuss from the rain we prayed so hard for!

Yep, it's either one thing or another!

Austin is on the news now. You guys sent your flooding this way, alright! I guess it is true what they say, "When it rains, it pours!" More coming tonight and tomorrow for us. Stay dry!

It's still raining! All those plumerias behind the pond, and no flowers left! More rain tonight and tomorrow.

we've had threats of rain the past 2 days. But not much to speak of. More chance for rain on Wednesday with the promise of cooler temps in the 70°s. I think Falk it's really here bringing more yard worried of a different nature. Sandi your Pencil Plant looks fabulous. I have a starter from @Rucky but it hasn't done much. I recently reputed it. It has rooted but not much going on upstairs all summer. Any hints for me?

I ignore it.
I think it was one of the plants I got when Gardener's Supply did the photo shoot of my friend's gardens. Much smaller then.
The thread "Free Plants!" in Texas Gardening forum

What a pretty picture of your lovely garden Sandi! I used to have two large Pencil Tree (Euphorbia tirucalli) ... one was planted in the ground and the other I kept as a container plant. I lost both to a harsh winter freeze a few years ago.