Question: Did I have three and one-half inches of rain or did I have seven inches of rain?? The wider surface collected more water so I choose to believe we had six to seven inches of rain between 3:00 and 7:00 AM.
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Additional rain since I took the pictures. Nine-thirty as I publish this–and more rain is predicted. To my knowledge, no damage in the CARE community.
Mother Nature hit the “pause” button for a few hours. Next “play”–but Texas is ready for the “stop” button!!
Yesterday, I planted a neglected, abandoned, orphan Aloe Vera plant . Is that a valid contribution?
As much as eight inches of rain predicted for the next several days!!
Protecting the plants.
In our area, it only lasted about ten minutes. Wow, what a ferocious storm!! Lightning flashing like Fourth-of-July fireworks!! The power went out; I grabbed a flashlight. All this started at 5:22 AM: Trailer shook violently, hard rain, lighting and thunder. I quickly dressed and got organized in case things got worse. I went to the CARE Center where “we” would have shelter–and a generator for power. Four volunteers and yours truly were the only ones there. No management, no maintenance, just five of us scratching our heads wondering what to do. ~~ According to Houston TV, lots of damage in that area.
The wind force was strong to topple fifty pounds of cement in the base of each support for the shade cover. Likewise, consider the weight of soil in the cucumber and pepper planters. ~~ One inch of rain in the gauge–and the storm lasted less than ten minutes!! ~~ Postscript, 11:05 AM: Houston TV meteorologist said wind was forty-five to sixty miles per hour.
Postscript, one o’clock: Eight trees went down between the CARE Center and the highway. I’m so blessed that trees did not fall on my trailer home!!
Brilliantly beautiful, gorgeous, spectacular afternoon!!
Where did they come from? “Free” bulbs: Ixia and Peacock Orchid. I’ll see if they grow and delight me with flowers. ~~ I’m “aiming” for “a place for everything and everything in its place.” Before I could throw away the spray paint can, I refreshed two plastic planters. I think it works best on dull finish planters rather than glossy.
Progress report, May 26, 2016: Peacock Orchid has made an appearance. No growth for Ixia (or Lavender in large planter).
This Sunflower was affectionately nicknamed “Valiant Volunteer.” It has struggled to grow in the shade next to the picnic table. I’m surprised the tall slender stem survived the strong winds early this morning. After the storm, it was nice to see a new bloom in my garden!!
The soil under my trailer home is very soft because an Armadillo dug a deep hole. The pipe was necessary to support the cement blocks.
Confession: Heavy work but a project that has nagged at me for weeks. With the rearrangement of tarp shelter yesterday, and blocks today, 
I can mark two items off my lengthy “to do” list.
“Never put off until tomorrow what you can do today!” The sensor hanging inside the tarp shelter indicated it would be cool and comfortable to approach the reorganization project. I’ve been embarrassed by the clutter when guests visit my garden!!
Most of the clutter had to “come out” before it could “go in.” Some of the storage containers had gathered unwanted rain water. I gave the saucers “a lick and a promise” before packing them away. I have planters, and saucers, for Hen ‘n Chicks, Christmas Cactus, and Money Moss (for sale at Thrift ‘n Gift).
Seriously, I perceive that I have a use for everything stored under the tarp shelter. As I handled “stuff,” I recognized a place–in the garden–for numerous things. Example: Plant stands and other items to elevate my planters. (I’m passionate about having my planters off the ground or off the patio.) ~~ The tarp has become tattered from the wind, and leaks “like a sieve” when it rains. The dehydrated “bricks” of coconut fiber got wet and you can see how they expanded (now stored in the white pails).
There’s a strange array of planters in my yard; most plants are new and different. Remember, I’m the “foster parent” to a lot of neglected orphan plants. Today, I set a goal to have my yard “picture perfect” before Mother’s Day. It’s good to have a goal?!
The list is endless; these are just a few.
Dear to my heart: Butterflies!! Here’s an article about Saving the Monarch Butterfly. Truthfully, I seldom (if ever?) see a Monarch–but I had this earlier experience with the caterpillar. I’ve had Eastern Black Swallowtail Butterflies. These on my Butterfly bush.
Postscript, Sunday, April 24, 2016: For the first time this year, today I saw an Eastern Black Swallowtail Butterfly on my Lantana.
Three Quarters & Counting 