Almost a foot of snow, and there’s never a ski lift when you need one.
Category: Nature
Snow Report
We got 3-4″ of heavy, wet snow last night and today. It’s not that unusual to have snow in West Texas, but we usually get the dry variety that stays on the trees and shrubs only as long as it takes for the first gust of wind to blow through. But this was snow of… Continue reading Snow Report
Ditch or Pipeline? Neither is likely to help our water situation.
As parts of the country endure flooding while other regions continue to suffer from a history-making drought and water shortage, it’s logical to wonder why we can’t figure out a way to move some of that water from one area to the other. Associated Press Science writer Seth Borenstein writes that the idea is simply not feasible, either… Continue reading Ditch or Pipeline? Neither is likely to help our water situation.
Drought and the San Saba River
The effects of the ongoing drought are depressingly evident throughout the Hill Country of Texas. We traveled from Midland to Fredericksburg last weekend, and brown was the dominant theme for the countryside. Except for a brief oasis-like hint of green around San Angelo (thanks to some very isolated recent downpours), the countryside was distressed beyond… Continue reading Drought and the San Saba River
Pomegranate Update (Yes, another one. Gimme a break.)
You’re probably growing weary of pomegranate updates, but given everything I have going on right now, this is about all I can come up with. Plus, I think it’s pretty great how a tree we gave up for dead is now thriving as a bush. The photos below don’t map exactly, but they’re pretty close,… Continue reading Pomegranate Update (Yes, another one. Gimme a break.)
Burn now, learn later
While the immediate economic and ecological impacts of the recent wildfires and ongoing drought in West Texas are inarguably negative, there are still some positive aspects to the situation. Steve Nelle is a San Angelo-based wildlife biologist with the USDA‘s Natural Resources Conservation Service, and he has authored a short and quite interesting assessment of… Continue reading Burn now, learn later
Random Holiday Nature Scenes
We had a rather uneventful Memorial Day, without much to report. We did go on a couple of walks around the neighborhood, and I thought I’d share a few sightings of local flora and fauna. The first was actually last night, and not local at all, at least not in the “neighborhood” sense of the… Continue reading Random Holiday Nature Scenes
Front Porch Update (or, “Doo doo doo, lookin’ out my front door”)
It’s important to keep the Historical Records up to date, so here’s what’s happening in the front part of la hacienda: Barn Swallows – When last we checked in on the little #@*%& fellows, their nest was almost complete. It’s now finished and positioned so close to the ceiling that we can’t see inside the… Continue reading Front Porch Update (or, “Doo doo doo, lookin’ out my front door”)
Fire Map
I’ve been tracking wildfires in West Texas via Weather Underground’s interactive mapping feature. If you’re not familiar with it, check it out when you have a moment. When you initially visit the preceding link, you’ll see a generic Google Map. Use the “Map Controls” located beneath the map to select which options you want to… Continue reading Fire Map
When life gives you lemons…
…make, uh, pomegranate juice? As I may have mentioned, our big pomegranate tree didn’t survive the Big Freeze of Ought Eleven. We discussed digging it up and planting something else, but then noticed a very healthy and vigorously growing batch of shoots coming up from the base of the dead tree. We decided to let… Continue reading When life gives you lemons…