Summer 2010

After starting out really hot, Lubbock's summer changed abruptly at the beginning of July, giving us a pretty good imitation of Seattle. So heavy and continuous was the rain that by July 11, we had received "rain totalling 7.05 inches — just 0.15 inches shy of the wettest July on record" (article). As a result, flowers, vines, and bushes of ours that had been languishing began to grow lavishly. Here are some examples...

First, we have our Trumpet Vines (above).

Next, is a purple-flowered bush known as Texas Ranger, Texas Sage, or Silverleaf. Compare the two photos above to how the same plant looked in our garden two years ago.

Lastly, we have a combination of Crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia), the large plants, and the smaller Purple Ice Plants, at the bottom of the picture (center-right).