Sprayer

We have several water sprayers like this around the back yard. Some we fill with water for our potted plants and garden. Others we use to spray for bugs (like scorpions) around the parameter of the patio and the house.

What’s great about these little babies is that by pumping the pressure valve at the top, the sprayer will send a continuous mist of water or liquid where you need it. You know how tired your hands can get with a hose sprayer. We love it because little K can get involved!

My neighbors even used one to scotch guard a new rug. Apparently, squeezing the bottle nozzle over and over for the entire area of a living room rug got old.

The sprayers don’t have to be expensive, but putting in a little more cash can keep you from constant replacements. Find them at your local hardware store like Lowe’s, Home Depot or our own local Breed and Co. I hope it helps you combat the drought and keep your plants blooming and your tomatoes tasty!

Here's a link to a video about a fantastic project going on down at Deep Eddy. In reality, it's been in the works for a long time. We're especially excited about it because Kristina and I and some friends have been helping to make the tiles! We're going to have to head down there and look for the ones we signed....

Check out the new mural at http://austin.ynn.com/content/top_stories/279022/local-wonders--deep-eddy-mural-project

See you at the swimming hole!

The eight months from October 2010 through May 2011 have been the driest eight-month period on record for Texas since 1895. Rainfall in Austin was 38 percent of normal. We enter the summer season in an “exceptional drought.” Homeowners need to be on the defensive when it comes to saving their trees.

Temperatures have hit triple digits earlier than usual this year, with three 100+-degree days in Austin in May. With little water coming in, the region's two water supply reservoirs, lakes Travis and Buchanan, together are about 60 percent full, with about 1.2 million acre-feet in combined storage.

Mulch can help protect the root systems of your trees by keeping water in the soil. Remember to water your trees whenever the soil is dry to the touch. Yes, water bills will go up but this can keep your tree alive through the dry season. I have many friends opting to abandon their plants and gardens during this time and choosing instead to water their trees. Where do you get more bang for your buck?

Because soil is parched, it will take about 5 to 6 inches of rain in the basin to begin to produce significant runoff. That amount of rain appears highly unlikely this summer, unless a tropical storm brings rainfall to the region. Odd that one region’s hurricane could be another’s hope for survival.

Stay cool, Austin families! This weekend, like most, you can find us at Deep Eddy Pool!

Source: http://www.lcra.org/water/drought/index.html