Our region experienced an earthquake this week that surprised us all. Earthquakes in this area are not very common with the last one over 75 years ago. I have never experienced an earthquake, and it was very strange to literally feel the earth move beneath my feet. The odd part of it was that I did not really know what actually happened until it was almost over. I, my family, and my cats are fine. Only a few small items are broken from the shaking. And when I checked the garden, nothing was damaged at all. Even the garden statues remained standing. Still, in that chaotic and tumultuous event, the garden remained tranquil.
A day ago, we had a severe thunderstorm that left my house intact but my garden in complete disarray.
There were leaves and branches strewn all over the lawn, the deck, the patio, and the garden.
And a huge branch of a very tall oak tree fell inside our yard breaking a fence post and damaging some of my plants.
The branch must be about 20 feet long--almost the size of a small tree. It crushed a milkweed plant and a Buddleia alternifolia (spring blooming butterfly bush) with its force and massive size. A small Duarte peach tree also was crushed. They only appear damaged, so I am grateful for that. It could have been much worse. In other areas, fallen trees landed on parked cars and roofs.
My husband and I attempted to move this very large branch into the woods beyond the fence but it was much too heavy. We will need to use the chainsaw and cut it up into small pieces this weekend.
My tranquil garden does not appear to be tranquil at the moment with all of the damage from the storm. However, I know appearances are not everything. As I walked around inspecting the damage, I noticed the bees and butterflies going about their business as if nothing had happened.
The plants also seem to be carrying on--reaching for the sun and swaying with the breeze. Nature has a way of showing us how to adjust to the upsets and the lulls, to simply go on. I will try to take that lesson to heart as hurricane Irene approaches and threatens more upheaval, but I will be yearning for my Tranquil Garden.
©Michelle A. Potter
I am so glad that you, family & pets are ok. The garden will recover.
ReplyDeleteGlad you are OK, Michelle! Please take care this weekend!
ReplyDelete@Lola Thanks, Lola. I think that is one thing I really like about the garden...it will recover.
ReplyDelete@Sharie Thanks, Sharie. I hope you and your family stay safe this weekend as well!
ReplyDeleteGlad everyone is okay! I know that many, many people (myself included) are praying for those in the path of hurricane Irene.
ReplyDeleteOther than the leaves/branches from the storm, it looks like you have a beautiful deck, where you can enjoy the views of your garden.
thank goodness this is the only damage and all is well with you. After the clearing away, you may be glad of that fallen branch allowing in more light. Lovely tansy cups.
ReplyDeletep.s. Irene has at least downgraded so that is more hopeful for East coaster
Glad to hear you are alright and that not too damage was caused - the worst thing is that you have absolutely no control over these things. What happens happens - that's nature for you.
ReplyDeleteGood news all is well. The storm made a mess but luckily the quake spared all. Here the quake was felt, but that is all. We did get that storm too with branches all around the neighborhood. Now we all brace for Irene. We are lucky to be inland a bit, but the storm will likely affect our are too. The gardens will prevail and life goes on.
ReplyDeleteExciting weather! We have earthquakes here from time to time and they always leave me unnerved. During the largest I could see the trees bend over and the ground ripple. What amazing force. I'm glad all is well!
ReplyDeleteVery sad but glad that you are safe. It is a reminder of the power of nature and how important it is that we respect that. It is beautiful the way you do.....
ReplyDeleteSage Butterfly I am glad you are safe and I join you in lauding the notion of tranquility.
ReplyDeleteThanks God I never experienced a severe thunderstorm, but earthquakes are not rare in Italy... Fearful events for sure!
ReplyDeleteSo glad you're safe, and sorry for your garden. Now my thoughts are to American people still waiting for Irene.
Stay safe!
ReplyDeleteMother Nature sure is giving you a rough time. Thankfully you've remained safe. My cousin lives in North Carolina, but far enough inland that he's safe, too. My prayers are with you and the others affected.
ReplyDeleteI think that my hummingbirds will be quite annoyed when they find that I had to take all the potted agastache in the garage because of the approaching Hurricane! The great blue heron was in the pond until late this afternoon - wondering where he and all the birds will go to escape the winds tonight! Hope you fare well in your area! And thank goodness you escaped severe damage in the Earthquake.
ReplyDeletewhat a dramatic time you've had. Thank goodness all is OK. It is reassuring that the plants and wildlife show great resilience. Good luck for Irene. Maybe we appreciate tranquility all the more when it cannot be relied on?
ReplyDeleteI really hope that Irene hasn't left your garden devastated this weekend and leave you with more clearing up tommorrow.
ReplyDeleteso glad you are safe...your photos are beautiful!
ReplyDeleteI interrupted the tranquility a wasp was experiencing in my garden, it caused an infection in my leg, and I spent a week on antibiotics. I don't believe in tranquil gardens, just tranquilizers. Only one sure thing in nature and that's chaos.....You obviously know chaos.
ReplyDeleteIt is very disconcerting with hurricanes following earthquakes on what I think of as the relatively tranquil east coast. I am waiting on a small island off the coast of Maine for Irene to hit within the next few hours.
ReplyDeleteI hope Irene didn't cause you any more dismay. It's always a bit disconcerting when a limb falls down. Glad to hear nothing was damaged during the earthquake. Goodness! I hope you get a rest after this!
ReplyDeleteThe weather is just so extreme these days...sorry about the storm damage and glad you are safe.
ReplyDeleteAll the birds and insects that normally inhabit my garden come out this morning as if there had never been a hurricane. After the earthquake, which cracked our foundation, I saw a skink on my back patio for the first time in 8 yrs. I wonder if it would have come out from between the rocks had we not had the earthquake? I'm glad your ok and the branch didn't fall on anybody.
ReplyDeleteAn earthquake and now a hurricane! I hope you and your garden have not suffered further damage. Remember the tranquil garden begins in the heart. The worse natural disaster I have ever experienced was the tornado that destroyed our yard and heavily damaged our house back in 1990. I always say that night was the birth of my present garden. Nature has much to teach us about resilience and, as you say, simply going on.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you and your house are alright after the earthquake Michelle and hope all is well after Irene,
ReplyDeleteit's a pity about the plants under the branch but as you say it could be worse, I am amazed by nature and how much plants seen to withstand, my garden has been hammered by strong cold winds most of this summer yet some (not all) plants bravely bloom on,
take care Frances
I'm glad you're ok! :) I am loving the flower pics .. what type is the small yellow flower at the end? Is that a milkweed of some sort?
ReplyDelete~Wendy
I'm glad that you are all right; I hope you missed the brunt of Irene as well. Nature certainly has two sides--this weekend we've been reminded of its power, and yet there is the tranquil side where beauty can be found in the smallest thing. I hope your garden recovers and you can enjoy its peace once again.
ReplyDeleteGlad to know you are okay. This is the season for thunderstorms and fatal lightning strikes in my country.
ReplyDeleteI had no idea there had been an earthquake. That must have been very disconcerting. Glad to hear there's no damage to you, the garden will always recover and move on as gardens do.
ReplyDeleteOh dear! Glad you are all right!
ReplyDelete@Lola You are so right, Lola. It has that incredible ability to regenerate.
ReplyDelete@Sharie Thank you, Sharie. I hope you escaped any problems from Hurrican Irene.
ReplyDelete@Holly @ Your Gardening Friend Thank you, Holly. We had a few mishaps, but it could have been much worse. We do love our deck...it is a nice place to watch nature.
ReplyDelete@PatioPatch I like your attitude as we have tried to see the positives from these events.
ReplyDelete@elaine rickett Although it can be difficult at times, I am sort of glad that we can't control mother nature.
ReplyDelete@gardenwalkgardentalk.com It has been a very interesting week. And I am glad you were spared from any major setbacks from these events.
ReplyDelete@Malinda Wow, Malinda, that sounds pretty scary. It is amazing how much force these earthquakes have.
ReplyDelete@Foxglove Lane Thanks...I think it is important to respect nature.
ReplyDelete@catharine Howard Thanks, Catharine. I am looking forward to the tranquility even more.
ReplyDelete@dona After experiencing my first earthquake, I am not sure that I would want to live in a place where they are a common occurrence.
ReplyDelete@Elephant's Eye Thanks! It is very kind of you to offer your best wishes.
ReplyDelete@Rosie Thank you, Rosie. It seems we came through it with only some minor damage. It could have a lot worse.
ReplyDelete@jayneonweedstreet I have some hummingbird feeders in addition to the blooms. I had to take some in because it was so windy. I did leave one out because it was located in a protected area. And then I took it in for the night. They seemed to handle it well. I hope you fared well during the hurricane as well.
ReplyDelete@catmint I suppose it does make us appreciate it more. I know that tranquility feeds me like nothing else.
ReplyDelete@Rosie@leavesnbloom Thanks, Rosie. We only had some minor damage...we are very grateful it was not worse.
ReplyDelete@LauraX Thanks, LauraX. I really appreciate your good wishes.
ReplyDelete@Adele I suppose I will always crave the tranquility. With all the chaos in our everyday lives, I need that down time. Thanks for visiting.
ReplyDelete@Carolyn @ Carolyn's Shade Gardens It has been unnerving. I hope by the time Hurricane Irene reached Maine it had lost much of its power. My best wishes!
ReplyDelete@HolleyGarden Thanks, Holley, so do I. It has been a very interesting week. Maybe the rest of the year will be calmer...I hope.
ReplyDelete@Cat Thanks, Cat. I hope things are calmer and more balanced for all of us.
ReplyDelete@debsgarden I appreciate your outlook, and I am beginning to see how I can create some new beds in the ones that were destroyed.
ReplyDelete@Island Threads Thanks, Frances. Nature can teach us so much about life.
ReplyDelete@The Sassy Butterfly's Chaotic Musings Thanks, Sassy. The small yellow flower is tansy.
ReplyDelete@Rose I do as well, Rose. Thanks for your peaceful wishes.
ReplyDelete@Autumn Belle I hope you and your garden fare well during this season of storms.
ReplyDelete@Marguerite Thanks, Marguerite. It was a complete surprise to all of sudden feel the house shake.
ReplyDelete@Hanni Thanks, Hanni. Things look a lot better now that the hurricane has moved on.
ReplyDelete@Casa Mariposa I am so sorry to hear about your foundation. That is amazing how you saw the skink.
ReplyDeleteTake care ! it sound so scary to me!
ReplyDelete@Malar Thanks, Malar. Your good wishes are always appreciated.
ReplyDelete