Illusion of cool space

Illusion of cool space
Originally uploaded by Rexfree_99

Yesterday, hotter than hell, I wrote a long entry about the current state of my garden when we had a most abrupt and long lasting power outage...threw my whole watering schedule off since none of the drippers went on time, and if they did, there was no water going thru the lines.
today at 4:21 it is only 103o, better than yesterday's reported 110o, but really you get over 100 and it is just miserable combined with the high humidity down here by the creek and the pervasive stench of the blue green algae which is going nowhere now as the dam is closed.
Really, gardening and life on the creek can be a challenge. I haven't written for more than a week as my dog had an accident and has been suffering and pretty immobile though she seems to be on the mend now. Hard to tell with an 111/2 year old 88 lb dog...in this heat she isn't moving much, but still eats and drinks with gusto.
The garden is mostly a matter of watering, deadheading, pruning back stuff and trying to find morning cool time to do it in. This heat is just deadly for working out there...Later in the evenings works but I am not always home then. Makes me wonder what I am thinking of to more than double the size of my yard, but that is another blog that will start up in one week.
Current status of plants:
Veggies: Cukes are growing fruit as are tomatoes but nothing ripe yet. I have one eggplant, long asian, and one padron pepper. NOTHING on the zucchini...still no female flowers on any of the plants. The Brandywine has finally set some tiny fruit and my sweet 100s are starting to be ready to eat.
Fruit...a good crop on the Bartlett pear tree, lots of figs, ate my first two this morning in the yard, and lots and lots of grapes are starting to get color. I learned last year to wait a long time to eat those purple ones, they just get sweeter and sweeter...so delicious.
Flowers: Roses, are doing great, esp. the icebergs...ha ha. Dahlias are huge but not lasting in this blistering heat, Canna's are coming along in different places, and my zinnias while huge water hogs are looking good.
It is actually too hot to sit here and do this...I am just out of range of the ceiling fan and am going back under it. The notebook comp. would be too hot to handle on my lap, so ending this post.

Night Heron fishing

Night Heron fishing
Originally uploaded by Rexfree_99

Stalking the blue green algae

Stalking the blue green algae
Originally uploaded by Rexfree_99

I was happy to see the night herons arrive as I have had such a time trying to photograph them this year. There are several just waiting for all the little fish trapped by the algae...at least that is my theory.

Heron & egret fishing the blue green algae

Heron & egret fishing the blue green algae
Originally uploaded by Rexfree_99

The stumps protruding out of Cache Creek provides the perfect spot for the opportunistic flocks of night herons and egrets that are decending on the creek these past two days. It is really wonderful to see them. Wish I had a camera that could capture what I see with my binoculars. Pretty amazing stuff. Because of the algae, on a Friday night, instead of a lot of partying, I had the creek to myself and the birds stayed put. Except when they dove in for the fish. I haven't seen any dead fish yet, but the fish must be right near the surface as the birds seem to just pluck them out, and swallow them.

Hunting Egret Cache Creek

Hunting Egret Cache Creek
Originally uploaded by Rexfree_99

I have never seen so many egrets right across the creek from my house. But then I have never seen Cache Creek almost bank to bank with thick thick mats of blue green algae. It is really becoming unbelieveable but one can get used to anything, even if it smells like this.
If there are this many opportunistic birds of all kinds down here, I wonder what in the world it must be like down at the dam! A few minutes ago, I counted at least five egrets, three great blue herons, many small birds all enjoying whatever bounty they can capture in these mats.
I will be going near the state park tonight, and I bet the water there is clear compared to this end of the lake. Location, location,location as they say!
Of course this is perfect for this blog given it's name. I hope they are hunting there tomorrow when the light is better. I will miss them this evening.

Flowers in the vegetable garden

Flowers in the vegetable garden
Originally uploaded by Rexfree_99

Today it is supposed to be 106o...I hope that is not the case, but out where these flowers are in the full sun, in boxes on the hot hot gravel, it might be a reality.
I tried to make sure that there was supplemental water for them...when it is this hot, the drippers don't always provide enough water for plants in giant containers.
At 1:09, it is 93o in the shade.

Blue Green Algae on the move

Blue Green Algae on the move
Originally uploaded by Rexfree_99

The BlueGreen Algae on Clearlake and Cache Creek cleared up greatly for the 4th of July weekend but it has come down the creek with a vengence.
It will pass on to Yolo County, but in the meantime, it is a burden for all of us who depend on the lake for tourism, recreation or irrigation.
Just remember that it is a natural occurrence and that people are working to control runoff and other issues that contribute to these large blooms.