Have lost a bunch of my new wealth, had fun spending some of it, and saving some of it. This rain was the second biggest the oasis ever had. So hate not being here when it happened. The other one was in June also (2000).
Today I was finally able to get into the arroyo to the hackberry thicket. Some were better off than others but I'm pretty sure they'll all survive.
They were in at least 3' of water at one time based on how high the debris is on them.
The other soapberry thickets don't suffer from the drought as bad as this one does. I think it's because this one is practically on bedrock and has very little soil underneath. But they chose to grow there. I didn't plant them.
It rained some in the night, and rained again just awhile ago. Feast or famine.
I dug out my mosquito hat. I figure tomorrow the swarms will hatch.
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UPDATE: After the rain I went to the ponds looking for odes. It was great for about 10 minutes and then the skies darkened, thunder rolled, wind came up and everything stopped flying. In that brief 10 minute period I saw this Scissortail fly into the sparse cottonwood tree. I think it looks like it's getting new leaves. YAY!
Can't believe how suddenly my world went from despairing drought to glorious rains!
Stucco tank looking south |
LATER: At dusk I went down to the oasis to check on the owls. Got a neat rainbow shot.
A surfeit of pleasure and water. Well, at least of water. Good. Your mention of hackberrys and your hope for their survival made me laugh. Only 350 miles away as the crow flies, maybe less, hackberrys are in fine fettle. Always. I have friends to the south who have to put up with purple rain. Happy birds with berries and the results.
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