Saturday, April 29, 2017

Drought


The Cane palm got out of control, as tall as the light pole. It needed to come down. Drought has helped with the problem, it is dying.  Can you believe the photo above was taken at the same time as they one below? it is all about what I focus the camera on... Today I will show you what I don't like to show.

 We have no grass, no weeds, no water in the rain barrel, the leaves on the ground should not be there, the avocado is dropping them, the blooms fell off the tree, there will be no avocados this year. the bush at top right is a red hibiscus, no leaves but hanging in there.. the bottom right corner should be bright yellow bush. the dirt is blowing in the pool, the water levels are down, we add just enough to keep able to circulate. the banana tree is gone.  We watch as drought destroys our Jungle.



Thus cometh the chainsaw man...  a little each day, while I stand with phone in hand ready to dial 911.  Half the tree is on the curb for pick up.

on this day, in all the brown,  there was one hibiscus flower blooming and God's sunshine pointed it out to my camera....

Can believe the first photo and the last photo are in the same yard, on the same day as the other photos?

There is always hope when things are the darkest, always beauty hidden in with the ugly.

It is all about what we focus on. Focus on the Good..


20 comments:

Ginny Hartzler said...

Oh no, I'm so sorry! How long since you had rain? I hope the hibiscus comes back after the rain, but I guess some are just plain dead and no saving them. Has this happened there before? Is this the worst it has ever been? It Is in my memory of our friendship! Bob is so dwarfed by that tree, it is a humongous job. I know many other things are affected that you have not even mentioned.

crafty cat corner said...

So sad to look at all the brown Sandra. We also are short on rain but it isn't affecting the plants at the moment and also we water once a week.
I guess you wouldn't be able to get enough water to that type of plant or maybe you are on a meter.
What usually happens here is that we get no rain or loads of it.
Glad the chainsaw man wasn't hurt though and the one flower is beautiful.
Briony
x

Ann said...

WOW. Mother Nature needs to get busy and send you some rain. I'm guessing that even when you have gotten rain it hasn't been enough. Last year we were under a water ban (no using outside hoses to wash cars or water lawns or gardens) because of what they said were drought conditions. It was nothing like that though.

Karen said...

That is sad to see your plants dying. I appreciate the advice: to focus on the good.

Anonymous said...

How very sad about the drought and losing so much of your yard. You are right about there is always something good, if we just focus.

eileeninmd said...

Hello, it is sad to loose plants and trees from the drought. The hibiscus is pretty, I agree focus on the good. I hope you get some rain soon. Happy weekend!

My Mind's Eye said...

Dear me MS when did you last have rain....all that we had dang it...I wish I could send it to you and we have more next week..not flood like but rain.

You are very correct I would love a box....but w Arty in it
Hugs
Madi and mom

Pix said...

My heart does break for you with the drought situation. Central Missouri was in D3 drought from 2005 until we sort of came out of it with D0 for a couple of years... 2014 and 2015. Now our county is in D0 (abnormally dry) again. We lost so many trees, bushes, and flowers, and of course the animals suffered too. Farm ponds stayed empty and wells around us failed. Our well kept giving us water, thankfully, but it gurgled a lot. It is so sad to see the pictures of your place. I agree though, it is good to focus on the Hibiscus! Our lilies hung in there and we were glad to see their happy flower faces!

Coloring Outside the Lines said...

Oh this takes me back to our three years of drought- I remember how awful it was. The trees died- fires broke out everywhere from people throwing their cigarettes out the window of their cars...our grass turned crackly brown and our house shifted so bad we had to have the foundation jacked up on one end a bit. SO I feel for you. We are in the way of a huge storm today- maybe the rain will makes it's way to you.

Pam said...

Yikes....that is not looking good at all. Here in Nashville Tn, we have had our share of rain. Sorry that you guys are dealing with that and I hope you get rain soon.

Mevely317 said...

So accustomed to our dry climate, I forget how crippling a drought can be. That's neat, how something as delicate-looking as the hibiscus is really so hardy.

I like what you said about there always being beauty hiding amongst the ugly. Sometimes we (I) just need to look a little harder.

What Karen Sees said...

Nature is so fickle! Utah is mostly a 'desert' state, and we are always worried about drought and water supplies, yet this year, our lakes and reservoirs are overflowing, and we are having flooding in some suburban areas. Everything is lush and blooming, and even our desert landscapes are green. Another confirmation that life is not fair!!

Inger said...

This breaks my heart because these plants lived in a lush and rainy climate. As I said before, the drought didn't make a big difference to my yard. My main concern was my well running dry and the extreme fire hazard. Which I know you have as well, the fires.

Ruth Hiebert said...

To see plants dying because of drought is indeed very sad. I guess with pictures we can always choose what we want to show. Thanks for being real.Yes,there is still always a bright spot somewhere.The flower is so cheery.

Rose said...

There is a big, big contrast...and it is what you focus on. I agree...but just sometimes hard to do.

Linda P said...

I'm so sorry about the drought. I had no idea that things were so bad and it's sad to see the plants dying. Remembering how much you love your flowers which you have shared through your photos over the years it's good to see some of them still surviving. I hope you get some rain soon and that Bob stays safe as he deals with those dead branches.

Heidrun Khokhar, KleinsteMotte said...

I hope the good focus will bring a deluge of rain just not a hurricain.

Cat Lover said...

Oh Sandra, I am so sorry you are going through this drought. We went through one last Summer in our part of Ontario. Hope you get some rain soon.
Robin

Marie said...

clearing out your jungle...I would keep the phone in hand as well. :)

Debby@Just Breathe said...

Oh my, that is a lot of dryness. Sorry about the avocado tree too!