Two Years Ago When A Storm Blew Trough---

24 majestic and old-growth trees that had stood watch over White Rock Lake for more than 100-years

More Homes Had Trees On Them and I'm not talking about one or two

were lost to the storm and even today, they are missed  where they once stood watch.

Sunday, a powerful outflow boundary came racing across the metroplex ahead of a cold front that meet up with high humidity and dew points that had pushed the temperatures into the 90s.F. As the winds came some were recorded officially at 63 MPH, but in some places, those winds were more strong than the 63 MPH. When the winds moved past the Metroplex, the carnage of its rage was a
complete devastation.

Monday stated out with over 300,000 customers of Oncor, the delivery system for the electric utility parent, TXU Energy, without power. Quickly, the news reports came in that the storm had claimed one life when a Tower construction crane fell into a new occupied apartment building rendering the building unsafe to live in and residents were evacuated. Now, in the third day following the storm, the damage at first hand makes the storm of two years ago seem like nothing at all.

My first look at the damage left me speechless. I could not find words that could relay what I was feeling into words.  The sight of what I had seem had to be absorbed, whole streets reduced to pathways. I have a love for the lake that goes back many years. The giants of the forest have long held me captive and I am not what some would call a "tree hugger". Far from it, indeed.

While I had survived the initial power outage, my power went out abruptly last night just as I was set to listen to the symphony. It had been a long and stressful day and I wanted to relax. That, didn't happen. About 1:30 a.m. this morning, without lights, air conditioning, not even a fan, I slept until 4:30 a.m.when I  got up, dressed and headed for the car. The park portion of the lake opens at 5 a.m. and having stopped at McDonald's for coffee and some breakfast food,  I started the first trip around the lake when  I didn't have to worry about traffic and started  the first stage of an in depth look at the damage of the big majestic that were laid out broken with me hurting at the loss.

Two years ago, I had counted and recounted the loss in the big majestic. That count was at 24. Already this morning it was at 32 with more to come. I headed toward home arriving home just 15 minutes after my power had been restored.  I went to bed and slept a solid 4 hours. Once again, I dressed, packed my camera case and snack tote and headed out to find the caravan of linemen that were arriving in Dallas to help Oncor restore power.

There were crews from Texarkana, TX., Brandon, Mississippi, one group from Alabama and several other smaller utility contractors.The crews were bringing back the power as they worked.  Other crews were sawing the big massive trunks into pieces that were being loaded onto tucks. The Oncor staging area in the parking lot below the towering press box of Lake Highlands High School where it was like a military precision run operation. During the afternoon search for trees that I had missed, turned up more than I had expected making this storm, the worse that I have seen in the past 20 years at the lake. I have 331 images from the first round and 53 more on the second run. These images were only of trees that showed that recognizable tell-tail sign of bright new wood showing, full trees uprooted, old growth that had stripped half the trunk size into two pieces, trees that fell on houses, cars, buildings such as the boat house or office building along a major roadway that surrounds the lake borders.

Since I can only display three images in each post, it would be nearly impossible to show all the images. Some are professional quality while others are for archival record which means that they are

Dreyfuss  Club Picnic Area

The Boat House at White Rock Lake, c.1930s and a Giant cottonwood 

excellent at a smaller size but will not blow up beyond 50 percent. So, I will start with the three most powerful images and then do a couple more post.

There are trees that I miss not being there like we miss loved ones in our lives that are now gone so this really is a spiritual exercise for me. I had a longtime LH resident tell me today, "Thanks for what you are doing". That is what drives me more than anything. It meant something to her and that is good enough for me.



Corrections on 6/12/19 to omitted text because of previous updates prior to publishing.

Mother Nature Still In Control

A high meadow planted in wildflowers that have bloomed for a couple of weeks now, had another surprise as these peony poppy like plants have come up through the bed of prairie grasses that were cut in the fall and were bedded down over winter after being  sown with wildflowers.

The point is this: one must visit the meadow three or four times a week as plants come up almost over night with the warming temperatures and the large amount of rain that we have had this year already. The flowers are stunning and coming into the last phase of such beauty.The view changes as more species come up and bloom.

For a better look at the beauty, you can click on the image and it will open up at a higher percentage for viewing. See the total beauty of these wildflowers that nature held back until the very end of her spring run.

Finding All Kinds of New Blooms In Wildflower Seedings

It has been amazing to discover all the new species  of  wildflowers that were sown this year at and around the lake. Yesterday, I discovered a cousin of a common weed, Thistle.Today, I found new blooms that seemed to have grown almost over night. These, were cousins of the peony poppy that were so stunning at the Water Filtration Building. Since seeing those, I have seen not only more of the pink but also have seen them in the purple that is almost like the thistle in color. However, unlike the so many other things, there is a big difference when seeing them up close.

These are much like the peony poppy.

This is more like the common thistle

I

This little guy hangs out here. I first found him last season on a different bush. He seems to like this one better because he has a great viewing

Flycatchers Out In Large Numbers

Wildflowers Thrive After Record Rains and that lends itself to increase in insect population. Thus, flycatchers have ample food and numbers increase.

Flycatcher sits on top of sign with a large meadow down below. These birds can hover like a hummingbird. And that is when you see the color under the wings and side of the body with that orange and yellow brightness.

This Red Shoulder Hawk sits on the very top of a high-tension pole that is even higher as it sits on a hill where you can see downtown Dallas from near the High 5. Later, he was seen riding the thermals going into the cloud base  which was being reported at 1500 feet.

I WIll Not Pay $4 For A Stalk of Celery, Thank You.

The old law of economics' supply and demand is one of those laws that seem to work well all the time. Frankly, after all these years of understanding that fact tires me when the Mills, who don't eat cereal because they have to wash the bowl, are now driving up the cost of celery--that little green vegetable that is hardly any calories without the peanut butter. It seems that they liquefy that water-filled stalk in their Kitchen Aid and drink it for breakfast.

Corn Flower

Gay Feather In Bloom

The beauty is so delightful to watch progress.

I have eaten celery as a on-the-road snack for years. It's easy to pack. The 10-inch stalk contain about 6 calories. I cut them into 5-6 inch pieces for easier handling while driving. Up until a month ago, my favorite little market sold fresh,crisp stalks for $0.79 to $0.99 on a regular basis. Now, they are getting $2.39, which is about half of the so called organic stores where one had prices at $3.89.

So,  I'm already thinking that the dressing for the turkey this year will be without celery. I might have to go to cranberries. I bet grass clippings have some nutritional value and we know it will be green when you kitchen aid that!! Try it Mills! You might like it better than celery!

In Ten Short Years

In ten short years, the sheer popularity of [it] has ruined the ambiance of what it was and forever changed the character of the lake as I once knew it.The  two water-wise gardens  have been the saving grace. New construction;old anchors that are going up for sale in more numbers than seen beforehand. Massive old-grown tree loss has hit the park hard, too.The number of migratory birds that have been killed by cars and bikes, alike, Storms claimed a great horned owl when a nest was blown down. 

Dill is an attraction for Caterpillar larva of future butterflies.

Beautiful colores

First the flag pole at Flag Pole hill was replaced after a storm bent the pole. Now, for Memorial Day, the new flag is bright and sharp in color.

Thank You Bill Nye!!

Bill Nye, the science guy, was quoted as saying, "Everyone you will ever meet knows something that you don't."

A Tall Corn Flower Is Ready to Bloom

With that, my brain then ask the question: How many people does a person meet in a lifetime?

There are sophisticated algorithm programs that for better or for worse can answer that question. Although, many of the engineers that input that information are the first to admit that it is almost impossible to come up with an answer that would be fairly close and accurate.Yet, the algorithm produced a number of 10,000.   

So, based on the original statement, the powers of rules and factors that guide algorithms, there are 10,000 more things that I would know today had Bill Nye produced that info in my Weekly Reader way back all to many years ago. A what? some of you are saying. Google it!

This afternoon was an absolute delight at the lake. I sat on a bench at one of the highest elevations  that faced a breeze that was like an early spring day although it was high humidity and dew points. The moisture was streaming up from the Gulf that could be cut with a knife, yet, I was completely comfortable. I'm guessing that there was an outflow boundary of rain cooled air somewhere south and it was coming across the full length of the lake also. Never-the-less, when I did get back into the car, it was an instant reach for the AC knob as I headed toward home. I have always liked lakes in the summer, especially where that cool sea breeze comes a blowing inland. 

The ducks were all sleeping on the grass at Sunset Bay. The three mallards that hang out together were taking flight from under the Mockingbird bridge as I went by. All-in-all, it was a rather light and quiet afternoon before the holiday. 

The fire wheels are bright and beautiful, especially in the areas where the Queen Ann's Lace is bordering the wildflowers plantings in acres of meadows and hillsides.