White Crepe Myrtle in bloom
Our crepe myrtles are starting to bloom, about two months earlier than normal; they usually bloom in late August. It’s all this rain we’ve had. Some crepe myrtle trees around town bloom right around now, but that’s because they are on sprinkler systems and get watered more than ours do.
I have had to wear my boots in my yard most everyday for almost a month. When the heavy rains started some weeks ago, I came home one day to discover that my driveway was flooded. I left my vehicle at the end of the driveway and waded to the house. The running shoes I wore through the water didn’t survive being submerged. I sent them through the washer and dryer but I couldn’t get out the moldy smell; into the trash they went.
Now my rubber boots come with me most days when I leave the house, due to the forecast of a repeat weather pattern.
Sketch 138: Rubber Boots
Years and years of drought
Old trees fall, dust storms blow
And then the rains came
Front yard lake
We had yet another 3 inches of rain yesterday, so I went out to check the nest. There were only two baby birds in it and I didn’t have my camera with me. This morning, camera in hand, I checked the nest again. It was empty!
What is going on? Then, out of the corner of my eye, I saw a grey glob: a baby bird on a tree branch just to my left.
Oh. I backed away slowly, trying not to scare it any more than I already had. Then I noticed a second grey glob. Goodness, that’s a lot of growing each and every day.
Baby Mockingbird on a tree limb
Second baby Mockingbird
I have no idea how long it will be before they start flying, but these might be the last photos I manage to get of the baby birds.
Baby Bird Watch, Day 7
This wet, mild-temperature spring is agreeing with the Burr Oak trees.
New growth
It's a long story ... 