Today we recount the party from yesterday and go and check for any damage in the vegetable gardens. i was expecting carnage out there given the ferocity of this storm (in the middle of the kids party) but come and see..
As residents of a tropical area, we're no strangers to sudden, intense, and sometimes dangerous storms. But even we were caught off guard by the massive tropical storm that hit us yesterday at around 2 pm, just as we were hosting an outdoor party for our four-year-old. In a matter of minutes, what started as a sunny day turned into a torrential downpour that flooded our party area.
you can see here the photos of before the party, and 5 mins before the party as the storm rolled in.. i was sure it was all going to be fine... nope.. lol
Its Queensland, the weather in our area is always unpredictable, but we had never expected the storm to hit us with such force AND flood the area that does not flood.. ie where the party was. We reassured our guests that the party would be fine as we had never experienced any flooding in the party area before. However, within five minutes of the rain starting, we had to hustle everyone inside as the water rose ankle-deep.
The wind picked up seconds before the storm hit, and anyone who's lived in Queensland knows that this is a sign of a massive storm. And STORM it jolly well did. so furious. The gutters and drains overflowed, and the flow of water was so intense that it even burst out pipes off the water tank. I had to carry kids in who didn't wait in their cars as the water was ankle-deep in the street.
But just as quickly as it came, the storm passed, leaving us in a humid, and tomorrow a mosquito-filled aftermath. The kids raced out and played with big bubble wands on the driveway, and we were amazed to see how the rain had made the bubbles stay massive. Not that i can show many of those as it has the kids in it.
Now that the storm has passed, it's time to assess the damage and see how the garden has fared. We're relieved to report that it seems to have survived the storm largely unscathed, and we're grateful for that. the only damage that i can actually SEE is this damage to the water tank. that will need to be fixed.
This experience was a reminder of how unpredictable and powerful nature can be, We cant control the weather, but in the end, we came out of it with a memorable experience that we will never forget. The kids thought it was so fun being carried in over ankle deep water. Although one or two were terrified of the thunder.
THE GARDEN AFTER THE STORM
As you can see below the damage has been mild at best, we have been very lucky indeed. Everything is standing.
The tropical section,
with ginger, curry leaf and turmeric (that need berries cutting off)
The poolside pots
Here you can see the lime tree that is still standing. I am surprised about that
The back garden beds
These need to be dug out for winter anyway... but the only damage really seems to be that water tank
The citrus
All seems ok... despite pest damage.. no storm damage
The view looking back
Finally chickens and some other shots of the outdoor area
you can see why we thought we would be fine... it goes around 2 sides of the house, is several meters deep and is huge... lol... but no... not at all
These photos were taken today AFTER the party which is why its such a mess out there lol.. and some sad balloons.
ANYWAY
so basically its been a fun weekend in the garden, we were supposed to be taking all the adults down the garden to collect herbs and things to take home... but no.... nothing doing there. so difficult. ah well. it turned out well and the party girl had a great time.
thanks for reading
