I shall...

   You know it is not a good thing when I began to think that a tropical storm...not a hurricane...but a tropical storm might not be such a bad idea.  With tropical storms comes rain and usually lots of it.  As is a good bit of the country, it is dry here...bone dry...so dry that things are withering.  Add to that the triple digit heat blasting us and it makes for a most miserable time.  I can handle the heat but the dry...not so much.  Droughts are wicked things that cause suffering in so many ways.  My heart aches with each step outside as the ground literally crunches.  Plants are shriveled a brittle.  Even the pine trees are dropping their needles which usually does not occur until the end of September here.  The heat and drought cause suffering for my critter friends, as well.  With the creeks dried, some animals have taken to drinking the brackish water from the Bayou.  A little of this may be ok but to survive, they need fresh water.  The two little, decorative ponds in the yard are their only source of a cooling drink.  Despite my efforts to water the plants and fill the ponds, birdbaths and any available pans, it is not enough.  We need rain...badly.  I have even taken to dumping dishwater and stale coffee in the gardens and have buckets catching the drips from the air conditioning to use on plants. So, if it takes a tropical storm to dump that much need water, I shall deal with it.

  The gardens have gone the wayside with the exception of a few diehard plants that get a daily dousing from the water hose.  Even that did not save but a handful.  The potted plants are doing better but the "in ground" ones have already met their demise.  I am not accustomed to this.  Normally, my little shaded nook is lush and green.  Now, it is sere and crunchy.  You can imagine my surprise this morning when I found a single daylily in bloom. My heart swelled as I dropped to my knees to "embrace" the flower.  It was almost as if the little flower was trying to thank me for my efforts.  Seeing the lovely daylily gave me hope.  It gave me strength.  I can do this.  I shall do this.  I shall continue to help my friends as much as possible.  At times like this, the flora and fauna of the area need a helping hand.  I shall try my best.  I shall.