Another record deluge!

Another direct hit

I wasn't present yesterday, but first came a humongous hail storm, followed by torrential rains. The hail pounded most of the leaves from many of the trees, then the torrent swept everything (hail, leaves, and mulch) into big drifts, or the tanks. Some of the drifts were over two feet deep. By the time I left this afternoon, most of the hail had melted. 

This first photo shows how deep everything was covered with hail prior to the deluge washing through. I'd estimate at least 3" of hail fell for there to be 2" left today. (The rain gauge contained 1.34" of water.)

The path in the hummingbird garden was the lowest part of the garden, so the rushing water turned the path into a streambed.

The hail stones were up to half an inch in diameter this morning. I don't know how large they were when they fell. I had laboriously replaced all the mulch lost in the summer monsoons, only to have it swept away again. A lot of it could be retrieved after the tanks dry up, but it's too much work for me to do anymore.

This year has been really unbelievable with rains. Since my tanks were mostly all empty, yesterday's monsoon didn't do as much damage as the July 3rd one when everything was already full, but the oasis is looking very unkempt. And the road is really rough. My big concern on the road is a gully is beginning on the side of the culvert at the bottom of the big hill. (I forgot to take a photo.) If it isn't blocked up, it'll wash a 10-20' deep ravine there. That's how much fill was put in to make the big hill less steep. If I was physically able, I would put in a rock and concrete berm there. Hopefully, it'll be a long while before we get another such fierce monsoon.

Big broken tank

Dragonfly pond

In some places the water looked like it had icebergs floating in it. In all the years I've lived there, I've never seen anything like it. Crazy!

 There are still at least 3 Lucifers hanging around.

Juvenile male