Hurricane

After a week of media hype and hysteria, hurricane Irene came ashore in North Carolina yesterday in the early afternoon.  150 miles inland, there was not much to the storm -- high winds at times, but nothing noteworthy.  Instead of a flood, less than a quarter inch of rain fell.  I would have welcomed an inch or two.

At least the sprinkle filled the cisterns.

This morning was cleanup time.

The driveway was full of oak leaves and branches. 

Overhead, the canopy of oak trees opened up, admitting more light to the garden beneath.

Plants in the front garden sprawled across the driveway, including Lantana camara "Miss Huff."

Some plants were splayed out.  Rudbeckia laciniata, the green headed coneflower, used to be five feet tall, a cheerful yellow that hid the goldfinches that came to harvest the seeds.

Now this plant lies prone to the ground.  No worries.  It will come back next year.

A large Viburnum nudum in a container was pushed to the ground by a gust of wind.  Truthfully, this  happened in other storms too.

The bees seem oblivious to the disarray as they forraged for pollen and nectar.  Their favorite plant this morning was Salvia guarantica, the blue Brazilian sage.

The hostas came through in excellent shape -- their foliage continued to throw color sparks throughout the garden.  This one is "Paul's Glory."

A quiet morning after the hurricane in a backyard wildlife habitat.