April 01, 2024
On my wildflower drive out to Willow Metropolis Loop final week, I ended at Wildseed Farms in Fredericksburg, Texas, to take a look at their planted wildflower fields. The corn poppies have been popping!
If lightning hadn’t been flashing and thunder rumbling, I’d have stayed longer to take extra pics. However simply then I obtained a name from my husband at house in Austin, telling me lightning had simply struck a dwell oak in our yard — increase! — blasting a panorama gentle within the cover out of the tree, lifting low-voltage wiring out of the bottom and shredding its plastic coating, and blowing the transformer door off its hinge and slinging it 25 ft throughout the yard. There was no storm when it occurred. The lightning simply zapped down from a threatening sky. It appears to have traveled down the panorama lighting wiring and into the controller field and outlet on our home.
- Advertisement -
The facility went out, one outlet in the home was sparking, and the wifi router and sprinkler system controller have been blown. The whole lot else, together with the tree, miraculously appears to be OK. Repairs are nonetheless underway, however we’re counting ourselves fortunate. It didn’t hit the home immediately, the tree was unscathed, and we’re fantastic. It’s an excellent reminder to not idiot round outdoors when you see lightning or hear thunder.
I welcome your feedback. Please scroll to the tip of this put up to depart one. For those who’re studying in an electronic mail, click on right here to go to Digging and discover the remark field on the finish of every put up. And hey, did somebody ahead this electronic mail to you, and also you wish to subscribe? Click on right here to get Digging delivered on to your inbox!
__________________________
Digging Deeper
April 6: Come out to Austin’s Mayfield Park on 4/6 for the Mayfield Park Gardening Symposium & Fundraiser, 8:30 to 11 am. This annual profit for the park features a raffle, plant sale, and backyard audio system.
Might 4: Discover “good backyards, good swimming pools and pergolas, and out of doors rooms and gardens” on the ATX Outside Dwelling Tour on 5/4, 10 am to three pm. Panorama architects, designers, and builders will likely be available to reply questions. Tickets are $33.85 for adults, $17.85 for youths age 10-17.
- Advertisement -
Might 11: Save the date for Austin House’s Nice Open air Tour on 5/11.
Might 18: Pop as much as Dallas for the 2024 DCMGA Backyard Tour on 5/18 from 10 am to five pm. Tickets are $18 if bought on-line prior to six pm on 5/17, or $22 after 6 pm on 5/17 or on the occasion. For a sneak peek, click on right here.
June 1-2: Take a self-guided, 2-day tour of ponds and gardens in and round Austin on the annual Austin Pond and Backyard Tour, held 6/1 and 6/2, 9 am to five pm. Tickets are $20 to $25.
Come study gardening and design at Backyard Spark! I manage in-person talks by inspiring designers, panorama architects, authors, and gardeners just a few instances a 12 months in Austin. These are limited-attendance occasions that promote out shortly, so be a part of the Backyard Spark electronic mail checklist to be notified prematurely; merely click on this hyperlink and ask to be added. Season 8 kicks off in fall 2024. Keep tuned for more information!
All materials © 2024 by Pam Penick for Digging. Unauthorized replica prohibited.
