This and That

My roses haven't had a very prolific summer due to no rain.  I water, but water from the garden hose doesn't have the nutrients in it that rain does.  I'm amazed that they bloomed at all, and grateful that they, and the rest of my garden, hasn't died. 

There's a big tropical storm that's headed in this direction, but the weather people are saying it will miss us by passing about 50 miles to the south of us, then it will head to Las Vegas, Nevada.  Arrrrrgh!!

 Frustration doesn't even come close to what we're feeling here in these mountains.  People are starting to get scared, especially since 23 fires were started by lightening in the space of 24 hours last week right here in this mountain range.  Thankfully, our firefighters got them all out quickly, except a fire near Wrightwood (a second one; they just got the first one out when the current one was started by lightening) that has burned 345 acres and it forty-five percent contained. 

Oh, how I hope the weather people are wrong and we get drenched this weekend!

Sunday Sunlight

More red Penstemmon, lighting up the shade. It's almost done blooming now, and I'm seeing little lavender asters popping up here and there, a sure sign that autumn is on the way. I'm praying that this autumn is like last year; cool and wet instead of hot and dry.

We got a tiny spritz of rain today, but not enough to do anything any good. Thunderstorms are predicted for tomorrow but, unfortunately, they usually produce more lightening than rain. And more lightening-caused fires. I hate/love this time of year. Love the autumn holidays, hate the heat, dry weather and the stress of never knowing if we'll have to flee from a fire at a moment's notice...or even if we'll have enough notice to flee.

Flooding in the East from too much rain, fires in the West from not enough rain. How I wish there could be balance.