Long Hollow Cove Is Starting To Dry Up :(

The cove is starting to show the effects of the drought. We haven't had any significant rain in a couple of months. Per the drought classifications Central Texas is D4-Exceptional (the highest classification). Exceptional - Not exactly how I'd describe our current condition. It's more like unbelievably extreme, far from exceptional. Travis is down 31 feet. Apparently the far end of the cove's depth is less then 31 ft. It will take several more weeks of this brutal weather to dry up the entire cove. The lake is falling at a rate of about 1 ft per week. So that gives us about 25 more weeks before the cove is completely dry. They are forecasting an El Nino year so that means rain for central TX! Hopefully the rains arrive by October. Keeping our fingers crossed .....

750K - I Don't Think So?

The Carrots Are Still Coming In ......

Rain Clouds Over Austin!

Finally some rain clouds come our way. It hasn't rained in Jonestown just yet but we haven't given up hope. There is still a 40% chance through the night. Above is a thunderhead that looked like it was bringing rain to Round Rock/Austin and possibly points south. It did rain a bit south of Austin yesterday. But nothing in the Highlands. That's key to help fill Lake Travis.

Some Bloom Despite the Drought

The Bougainvillea and the Pride of Barbados are loving the heat. And their blooms show it! But today they did ask for a bit more water. The fern like leaves on the Pride of Barbados are yellowing. So I gave them a drink. Hope it helps. The Bougainvillea do need some water. I've been watering them twice a day for a couple of weeks and they've been starting to bloom again. Love the bright fuchsia!

The Front Progresses

The driveway apron went in this week :) Hope everyone is happy.

A couple more plants and the front is finis! Of course they will be Pride of Barbados. They are doing great in the 100+ degree weather.

The Shed is a Go!

We finally got the green light to proceed with the shed project from Mr. Bob :)

The is the state it's been in for several weeks following the Stop Work Order

The Cardinal Chronicles Continue

The babies are getting bigger......

They've been hanging out in the lime tree for the past couple of days.....

But just now one of them wandered from the protection of the lime tree into the pool area. Mom and dad are pissed!!!!

The Babies Have Flown the Coupe

After work I went to photograph the babies and it seems that they were in the process of flying the coupe. The runt was the only one left. When it saw me it hopped out of the net and into the lime tree. Once I realized what was going on I left them alone .... So no new pictures.

When I drove down the driveway upon returning from work, the father cardinal was hoping across trying to catch a grass hopper. Just about when the bird snapped up the bug it would hop off. The cardinal would leap after it ... I think the bug escaped behind the shed. At that point the female followed. They were both hunting for their young.

Diving Videos

Bug Eyed Baby

We have baby cardinals in the lime tree!

I discovered the nest a couple of weeks ago while doing my daily watering. I think the babies hatched about week ago. She has three babies.

Some interesting information ....

The female builds the nest while the male keeps a close eye on her and the surrounding territory for predators and other males. The female will be the only one incubating the eggs.
The males duty during this time is to feed her on the nest and protect their territory from intruders.
Once the young hatch, both will feed them. Two broods each season are attempted. The nest is made up of twigs, bark strips, vines leaves, rootlets, paper, and lined with vines, grass and hair.
You can find the nest placed in dense shrubbery or among branches of small trees. Generally 1-15 feet above ground.
Laying 2-5 eggs that are buff-white with dark marks. The female incubates the eggs for 12- 13 days and the young leave the nest in 9-11 days after hatching.

Dung Beetle Found at the Big Build

Here is a picture of the dung beetle as he moved his prize across the driveway :) See dog poop is a good thing - not a mess!

Some interesting information on our little friends .... Males and female beetles are between ½ and 1 inch long and overall metallic blue-green and copper. The front of the head is flattened and golden bronze. The male has a long, curved horn extending from the front of the head (clypeus) while the slightly larger female has a tubercle. The front legs are modified for digging.There are a number of dung beetles or "tumblebugs" in the subfamily Scarabaeinae (Canthon, Copris, Deltochilum and Dichotomus and other genera) that are important in recycling animal feces. Some are small, dark dung-feeding scarab species (e.g., Ataenius and Aphodius species). One species, Onthophagus gazella Fabricius, was introduced by USDA scientists in the 1970's and is now common throughout the state. In parts of Texas, they remove 80 percent of the cattle droppings. Most species are dull to shiny black and 1-3/8 inch or less in length with wing covers (elytra) that may have ridges (striae). They are often attracted to lights at night. These beetles are related to the sacred scarab of ancient Egypt, Scarabaeus sacer Linnaeus. This species plays an important role in nature: reducing fecal material in nature and thereby reducing the habitat for filth-breeding flies; considered beneficial and medically harmless.

Butterflies Love the PB Too