Friday, June 12, 2009

Fairly Freaksome Storm

So yesterday evening we had a fairly freaksome Supercell Thunderstorm roll through the area. Now I realize that we do live at the bottom of tornado alley, but we just don't get that many tornadoes around here and so this was a little frightening. I think it was right around 8:15-30 yesterday evening when the storm suddenly turned the waning afternoon light into near complete darkness. We were pummeled by dime to quarter size hail and we had a small tornado touch down in the neighborhood right behind ours. I don't believe there was any damage - it seems to have come down in an open field directly behind the new housing complex. Here is a photo of it from KXAN:



Small, but still scary. It's not like I live in Oklahoma ya know! I am not used to this kind of stuff! I guess we can have big tornados here though. My neighbor was telling me about the Jarrell tornado of 1997 that devestated the area just to the North of us and how that storm spun off tornados all over and tore up the old Albertsons down the road. So I guess we can get really giant scary tornadoes here (I have only lived in Central Texas since 2002). I'm sure glad that this storm only spit out funnel clouds a few tiny tornadoes. Phew! That was a close one!

And in other gardening news...

My Texas Bluebells are now beginning to bloom. Oooh pretty. I can see why these Bluebells have been nearly picked out of existence in the wild. Sometimes the Native American Seed company has seeds available for purchase.:



And the blue mistflower is simply covered in Queen butterflies. How many do you see in this photo? I count 10:



Last year my garden saw a duel between anoles, this year it is a duel of the geckos for the best bug-catching spot on the porch:

10 comments:

Unknown said...

that was a crazy storm wasn't it! we are out by the lake and didn't get the wind, but the rain came down hard.

i LOVE your photo of the butterflies! i really want to attract more butterflies to our garden. i'm trying to plant more butterfly friendly plants..;) great photo!!

Laurie and Joshua said...

We have had a lot of storms in Colorado lately.
A few days ago Denver has a severe storm that resulted in a tornado and golfball to baseball size hail.
(I am glad I am northeast of denver)
Joshua

www.lifeseedco.blogspot.com

sweetbay said...

The Texas Bluebell is beautiful! I love the pic with all of the butterflies.

Pam/Digging said...

Tornadoes are always scary, no matter what size. We were in north Austin when the Jarrell and Cedar Park tornadoes hit, taking cover in the windowless hallway with a toddler and a dog. My husband pedaled home from work on his bike, his black jacket flying out behind him so that he looked, according to one neighbor, like the Wicked Witch of the West on her broomstick!

Anyway, your garden looks happy for the rain. And the butterflies too.

Meredith said...

Lol to Pam about her husband looking like the Wicked Witch. During the Jarrell and Cedar Park tornadoes, I was 40 weeks pregnant and "tucked" in a bathroom with two dogs, thinking for sure I'd go into labor with the low pressure. But alas, no -- baby ended up waiting another week. And during this 2009 storm, that same baby, now 5 ft 8 (and growing), took cover in that same bathroom with his brother and their Nintendos!

Lee17 said...

cat,

If you want butterflies - I guarantee that the blue mistflower will attract them in droves!

Lee17 said...

Laurie and Joshua,

Holy cow! That is some big hail! luckily golf-ball size is the largest we have had at our house recently.

Lee17 said...

sweet bay,

Thanks! I love butterflies too - I am always taking pics of them ;)

Lee17 said...

Pam,

Holy cow! That had to have been so scary to have witnessed such an event! I hope to only see those on tv and not so much in real-life. *crossing fingers*

Lee17 said...

Meredith,

How ironic! What a wonderful tale! Thanks for sharing ;)