Unbelievable! This area of Texas was over 15" below normal for annual rainfall in 2005. I think that pretty easily explains why my garden faltered and why the pecan trees failed to produce any significant nuts. Last year I used a regular lawn sprinker for my garden either in the morning or evening. This year I will be using a drip irrigation system to keep the soil moist while minimizing loss from evaporation.

The lack of rainfall is also the leading cause for the rash of wildfires we are experiencing now. Beginning in December through now fires have burned over 250,000 acres and destroyed at least 250 homes in Texas.