Squirrels and Amarcrinum
It's not supposed to be over 100°F every day in June, but that's happening in Austin in 2009. The heat may be on, but these weirdly fragrant Amarcrinum still opened, probably because they were given one of the best sites in our yard, a smidge of the only border that offers morning sun with afternoon shade. You can grow almost anything with that exposure - even in Texas - but most of our lot gives us the reverse - shade in the morning turning to baking, parching, frying afternoon sun. 
We woke this morning to the sound of little paws skittering madly across the roof, and all day long the trees have been full of chattering, sex-crazed squirrels. While on my way to the garden shed I startled this busy pair and was able to snap a photo because Kerri taught me that a blogger never leaves the house without a camera. The image is so clinical that I'm not sure whether to thank her or blame her for this post!
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It's not supposed to be over 100°F every day in June, but that's happening in Austin in 2009. The heat may be on, but these weirdly fragrant Amarcrinum still opened, probably because they were given one of the best sites in our yard, a smidge of the only border that offers morning sun with afternoon shade. You can grow almost anything with that exposure - even in Texas - but most of our lot gives us the reverse - shade in the morning turning to baking, parching, frying afternoon sun. 
We woke this morning to the sound of little paws skittering madly across the roof, and all day long the trees have been full of chattering, sex-crazed squirrels. While on my way to the garden shed I startled this busy pair and was able to snap a photo because Kerri taught me that a blogger never leaves the house without a camera. The image is so clinical that I'm not sure whether to thank her or blame her for this post!
Oh, man, maybe this post should be x-rated ;-)
ReplyDeleteI hate that you Austinites are having such hot weather. The hot weather has moved over to IN too. UGH.. Not the 100's but the 90's with the heat index of over 100 due to the humidity. UGH...
ReplyDeleteThose naughty squirrels should get a room as I heard it said. ha... Great capture. I hope your neighbors know of your camera carrying ways. tee hee...
Annie! Yes, let's just call this post "clinical"...
ReplyDeleteExcellent shot, Annie -- but it sure makes one feel like blushing!
ReplyDeleteThe heat is on...in all sorts of ways.
ReplyDeleteWe are deciding to give some of our plants a stress test (a la the Fed) and if they don't survive this summer without supplemental water then sadly we will simply let them go.
Makes all our Spring plans seem just plain silly, though. Do you think we'll be more conservative next year or will optimism triumph over experience?
Sharing many mutual blogging friends, it's been a delight to visit your lovely site. Happy Summer!
ReplyDeleteWe have been too hot here in Louisiana also. Today was 102 degrees - Yikes! Here's hoping for some rain or at least some cloudy weather. One of my crinums just bloomed, and with the heat the flowers only lasted one day.
ReplyDeleteJan
Always Growing
Annie -- I'm sure you embarassed those little squirrels! Maybe we need a ratings system for garden blog posts!
ReplyDeleteHi Tabor, Lisa at Greenbow, Carol, Meredith, TexasDeb, Joey, Jan and Diana - thanks for being brave enough to leave a comment ;-]
ReplyDeleteThe squirrels didn't look embarrassed, just annoyed that a human being was outside when it was 102°F.
Experience over optimism? My 36 years of experience as a homeowner in Illinois and Texas have taught me that it's always a drought year, a flood year, a record cold year or a record heat year. If you go overboard planning for one of those extremes the year might turn out to be one of the other ones! It's wishy-washy perhaps, but I steer a middle course.
With a vegetable garden measuring a whopping 8'X 10 I don't plan much...just keep adding organic matter, have fun shopping for interesting varieties and hand water.
Should I wish y'all interesting animal sightings in your own trees?
Annie
Wow-amazing shot, Annie! And the Amarcrinum shot is great, too, of course.
ReplyDeleteThe bloom is beautiful, just charming. As for the rest... I always wondered why the Great Dane dogs don't wear pants; now, I'll wonder why the squirrels don't wear pants. Looking at the animal on the left, I can say that I've never seen an animal with such intense interest/curiosity on its face.
ReplyDeleteLove the Amarcrinum, its flowers and colouring is so delicate and it's scented too I see. What more could a gardener ask for?
ReplyDeleteOver 100 F is pretty darn hot, here we have a moderate 19 to 24 C which is great growing weather.
You should teach those squirrels to keep their tails down. ;-)
LOL! I've never observed my squirrels so "clinically." The Amarcrinum is beautiful.
ReplyDeleteLove the advice about bloggers never leaving the house w/o a camera. By the time I remember, and return for the camera, the moment is often lost. Your pink lilies are lovely.
ReplyDeleteSquirrels Gone Wild ... I can see the video now!
ReplyDeleteLovely amarcrinum!
The squirrels and the flowers...didn't it used to be the birds and bees! gail
ReplyDeleteYou would think it would be too hot for those squirrels to think of anything but napping:) It's hot here in Illinois, too: the temperature reached 96 this afternoon, and with the humidity it felt like 105. Needless to say, not much gardening is getting done here.
ReplyDeleteO my goodness! Look at the sex crazed look in the little guy's eyes. Reminds me of some public figures we hear about in the news from time to time.
ReplyDeleteOhmigosh, Annie, this squirrel photo really takes the prize. That'll teach 'em to mess with you!
ReplyDeleteAnnie, your gardens are always inspiring... apparently these squirrels think so, too--just in a slightly more, um, "clinical" way! ;)
ReplyDeleteIt's the love doves at my house who are making a show of desire. That flower is so pretty. I have lots of morning sun and afternoon shade. So glad I do.
ReplyDeleteThanks Iris/Society Garlic and Yolanda Elizabet and welcome Tatyana. It was a wonder the male didn't topple from the branch with such a disproportionate set of family jewels! Oh, does 24ºC/75ºF sound wonderful - the kitchen hasn't been under 80ºF in ages, even with the A/C running.
ReplyDeleteI think of Amarcrinum as one of the compensations of living where it's warm, Mr. McGregor's Daughter and Weeping Sore - a sort of trade-off for lilacs and tulips!
Video! Duh! Now I feel stupid,
Cindy from Katy - could have switched the camera over to video mode.
I think the birds were at it too, Gail - but the cardinals didn't pose.
Prairie Rose, maybe being native-born Texan squirrels means they're used to the heat?
Hi anna maria - good to see you. Those misbehaving public figures seldom seem to be under the influence of true passion - more like an ego thing or trading for newer models? Squirrel lust seems almost pure in comparison.
Lost Roses! How wonderful to see your name. And thanks for the prize. Blackswamp Kim, in addition to trees, shrubs, berries, vegetables etc, we put in that fountain almost a year and 1/2 ago...and seriously, I think the animals feel more secure with a constant source of water.
Hi Flower Garden Girl - lucky you! Love doves and morning sun!
Thanks for coming!
Annie
Oh my! You really caught that squirrel with his pants down! Hee, hee! I love your Amarcrinum. Such a lovely delicate color. Amazing in this heat!
ReplyDeleteNow that's a squirrel shot I never thought I'd see . . . and when is it too hot for sex? especially wearing those fur coats . . .
ReplyDeletenature photography can be....risky!
ReplyDeleteAround here the squirrels are still getting this spring's babies oriented and out of the house. Texan squirrels must be on a different schedule that Ozarks squirrels. We generally see them sex-crazed in the late autumn.
ReplyDeleteRight now they are busy running around trying to find something to eat, and lately they have decided that the fresh shoots of the wisteria are real tasty. The wisteria doesn't care.
Annie- you always have such interesting flowers and this one is beautiful.
ReplyDeleteI love that Amarcrinum. I will have to consider it as a possible overwintering choice.
ReplyDeleteMy goodness, Annie, I'm rather relieved that you didn't think to set the camera on video mode..chuckle, chuckle.
ReplyDeleteI'll have to mark on the calendar that somebody actually took a piece of advise that I gave!
This really is a great capture. I'm glad you had your camera :)
The Amarcrinum is the softest, most beautiful shade of pink. Lovely!
If we could share our mild (even chilly) temps and overabundance of rain with you, perhaps we'd both be happy with the weather. Ours was miserable again today, but beautiful yesterday (one of very few lately). My gardens are an overgrown mess, but the blooms are still pretty.