TUNING MY EYE TO THE TEXAS LANDSCAPE.

Coming home to Texas after spending three weeks in England's green and pleasant land can be quite a shock. It takes time for the eye to adjust, particularly when the temperatures have been unseasonably warm. Five weeks ago I left my garden to fend for itself. The only visitors were wildlife. A wren managed to rear a family in the potting shed. The only place they could have come in and out was an inch gap under the sliding doors. I would never have known but for all the bird poop on the floor. They had been perching on the drying rack. I found the nest in a plant pot on the shelf. The goldfinches seem annoyed at my presence as they forage the seed heads on blanket flowers, basil and coreopsis, all gone to seed in my absence.

But blankets flowers continue to bloom as though it was still spring. At least there was some color still left to brighten the garden.

I was wondering why all my potted plants had died. I thought to begin with that it must have been the intense heat and drought but the when I set the drip system on manual and it didn't come on I knew there must be a problem. The GFI in the potting shed had tripped. Judging by the condition of many of the plants it must have been off for some time. I am now in the process of removing spent annuals, and cutting back plants in the hope that an infusion of water will bring them back to life. After three mornings of pruning and watering I am feeling a lot better and I see the garden starting to look its old self again. I think my eye is finally tuned to Texas. It is still going to take me a couple of weeks to get it back in shape. The price I have to pay for visiting 28 of England's finest gardens.