Saturday, August 11, 2012

the difference a year makes


The pecan trees have been dropping green nuts for several weeks now. Big ones. You can see how big they are.


The trees themselves though are still loaded with pecans. This is a far cry from last year during the drought when they started dropping immature fruit when they were only 1/2” long and continued to drop as they grew.

Then the squirrels, bless their little rodent hearts, were so desperate for food and moisture that they started picking and chewing on what was left of the green fruit until there was not a single nut still left on any of the trees.

It proved to be a bit of a respite for me since when the pecans start to mature and fall, I spend several hours a day picking them up and shelling them.

This year though, I can see I will have my work cut out for me.


This isn't the only difference between this summer and last. We suffered triple digits for three months and no rain for many more than that last year. So far, I don't think we have had a single triple digit day and it doesn't look like we'll get any this month either, traditionally our hottest month of the year.

Another difference between this year, now that the rain has returned, and last year's drought is that the bird baths are not seeing nearly as many visitors. Being the only water source around, we had a constant parade of birds small and large. The red shouldered hawk that lives in the area visited regularly as well as a group of crows that entertained us daily.

I sort of miss the crows even though they monopolized the bird bath in the front.

I don't, however, miss triple digits and no rain.



15 comments:

  1. I hadn't expected to like a post dealing with large nuts, but i did. :-P

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  2. I've forwarded this to my sister who lives in Kansas City. The drought there has been devastating - like yours last year. May the rains come to the midwest!

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  3. we've had quite a few triple digit days here - but 'normal' - nothing like last year's hell! this morning it was 69 degrees! in august! in texas! :)

    you've got lots of pecans, there!

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  4. It is so perfectly beautiful today. It makes those >100 days seem so far away, but I fear they will return with a vengeance before fall arrives.

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  5. We finally had a really good rain this week - our grass might actually turn green before fall. AND it's 74 degrees right now - I'm sitting outside with the laptop. Heaven!

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  6. The nuts are a lot of work but sure good. i have worn my thumbs ragged a lot.

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  7. LOVELY nuts! Such a gorgeous tree. It is 59 degrees here- lots of rain as usual.

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  8. I remember last year... you having to pick the sickly fruit from the ground. I also remember the pictures of the yard... glad things are better now. Around here, on the other hand, things are sizzling, so much that most of my plants are dying *sigh* I brought some into the house, but the rest might not make it ;-(

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  9. How cool, to have pecans in your yard! That seems like such a luxury!

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  10. Look at all those pecans!! Wowzers!! You are going to be busy for sure.
    Hugs
    SueAnn

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  11. It's been a lousy summer here - months and months of endless rain, flooding etc but at least the hose pipe has been lifted.

    Enjoy the nuts - all my garden is producing is potatoes, I dug up another 10lbs yesterday.

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  12. Yes, triple digits are way toooo hot. But watching how the heat impacts the landscape along with dealing with the results would squeeze my heart a little. When nature struggles to survive it reminds me of how fragile we are. And yes, a year can make a huge difference. Why does it not feel so when the world is burning to the touch?

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  13. What a relief to have a normal summer. I remember how disturbing the drought was last year.

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  14. I'm glad your drought is over. Coming from high mountain desert myself, drought strikes fear in my heart. We have had a mixed bag this year. Here in the mountains it has been cool until the last month. We don't have air conditioning at this altitude, not many do, however closing the house after the early morning cool until around 5:00 has been the custom this last week.

    I love that you have bird baths!

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