Backyard tornado
Midwesterners are used to severe weather condition in spring and summertime . I ’m no alien to scooting down to the cellar to take cover during a tempest . But last July , a tornado come a niggling too close for comfort , zipper correctly down the street from my house and through my neighborhood .
First and foremost , no one was hurt , and there was no significant damage to the homes in my area aside from some miss shingle or siding . However , I live in a neighborhood with some tall old trees that were n’t so lucky .
After the storm passed and we came out to review the damage , it was no surprise to see enormous ball of our walnut tree Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree in one neighbor ’s yard and part of another neighbor ’s maple in our driveway and on top of our camper . But the large cluster of branches covering my shed and garden was the issue I zeroed in on . The largest branch was nearly a foot in diameter , and my endearing garden was under it .
Last summer was my first go - troll as a dahlia agriculturalist . In July , I had nine hearty dahlias on the verge of blooming . In all honesty , I was feeling pretty cocky . Of naturally , my first concern after the storm was that my family was safe and our business firm was standing . But quickly after that ( a piffling too quickly , I ’ll admit ) , I was hurrying across the cubic yard to see how seriously the flowers had been hit .
The large branch was still partially link up to the walnut tree tree . The bulk of its exercising weight rested on top of our shed , punching out a skylight and indent the cap , but other branches and debris blanketed the area where my Dahlia pinnata were found . Some of the bet I ’d used to stabilize the Dahlia pinnata set mangled under a pile of sprig and leaves . It was n’t looking good .
I took a few deep breaths and mentally get up myself to see all the Dahlia pinnata rupture in one-half . The dream of never - ending summer bouquets withered and died in my heart . But what was this ?
As we tardily chipped aside at the messiness , I spotted at least one dahlia plant list but inviolate . Then another . And another . They were battered and a bit worse for the wear , but nothing was unsalvageable .
When the last of the brush was cleared away , all nine dahlias were spared . Each needed restaking , but the extra study was worth the joy of not lose them .
While I was n’t ask a crack cocaine in my backyard this summer , it reminded me to be grateful for the good thing . Our trees mislay some subdivision but remained strong . The garden was a mess to clean but really thrived the rest of the summer . And we are golden to have such good friends and neighbors with chain saw .
Jamie has always dreamed of being a storm pursuer and loves the buzz and excitement of severe weather , which is belike why she has watched the movie “ Twister ” no less than 20 times .
Read Jamie ’s new novel!Weight of Water
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