The storms keep coming

City street tree taken over with the wind.  Just one of many.  One fell on a car as it was traveling just a block from here.

The neighbor's Catalpa narrowly missed her car and went in the opposite direction of three houses.  Everyone was grateful for that.

Years ago her sons were trimming off a broken limb with inadequate tools.  The chain saw was out of commission for this rescue operation but we made do.  The hockey stick replaced the baseball bat used last time.

Milwaukee has been under a dark rain cloud for nearly a week.  I haven't been in my garden for a whole week and found four inches of rain accumulated in my rain gauge.  I found peas ripe and lettuce ready for the picking.  
We had straight line winds that ripped through the neighborhood.  It was all over in less than a minute for the worst of the damage.  I had just finished unloading groceries and happened to be in the basement when it all let loose.  I came upstairs to find my husband looking out at the ruins of my neighbor's tree.  It has been a favorite of her family and many others who walk by.  It is a tree with character.  It will be missed.

A very sad moment between friends.

Seattle kind of weather

Milwaukee has been experiencing some weather extremes.  The days have been wet and gloomy, more like Seattle than the typical mid-west summer.  The extra rain and high winds tested the skills of the City of Milwaukee Forestry Department.  Late nights and long days went into clearing the streets of downed trees and limbs.  They are a well oiled machine when it comes to storm work.

The wet weather has hampered gardening.  I had worked quickly to get my plants in before the lingering front settled in.  The plants are thriving from getting in the ground before a thorough soaking.  I over-seeded and patched some areas of turf which have sprouted well with minimal attention.  My only regret is I didn't get my shade plants in before it all hit.

Our crew still has a bunch of trees to get in the ground.  Most areas are so wet, that we can't get in to do this.  Other spots need just a couple of days to make this possible.  The trees that are in are happy with the moisture levels keeping them hydrated.  The rain is good in some ways and a hindrance in others.  I guess you can't have it all.

The walk through my misty garden was a treat this morning.  Water drops clung to everything.  There were spider webs across the grass that were beautiful.  There was fur and feathers from a battle that took place yesterday that was not as appealing to see.  Everything was just so quiet and peaceful.  I love a hot cup of coffee on a cool, wet morning.  I think I will take advantage of the saturated mulched areas and get the Weed Dragon busy burning up all those tree seedlings coming up.  Make hay when the sun shines, burn weeds when it doesn't.  Have a great weekend!