After the tremendous build-up our storm went like this:
6:30 PM - Started Raining
6:35 PM - Stopped Raining.
Meanwhile, at the next town 22 miles South of here they were getting 2 to 3 inches of rain and pea to softball sized hail. Several people were injured and many of the South facing windows in the town were busted out. A similar one here last year took out my skylights and I remember kind of watching in shock as it happened. Anyway, good luck for me so far. Gnat sized hail would crush the Tomato Tree and one good softball sized hailstone could take out the entire garden.
The results of last year's rain, and our elevation from severe drought area to severe water shortage area, amaze me every day. It is so strange to watch colors linger and maybe even mature here. The cycle has always been infrequent, brief periods of effective precipitation and the native prairie grasses would turn green for a few days to maybe a few weeks. The colors never developed any depth and have not held my attention very often or for very long. I was just now watching the grass grow in my back yard and the colors are mesmerizing. They appear to be maturing in some way that they never have before.
Finally, I should have read this, or this, before I planted the Tomato Tree. If this is one of those I have clearly chosen the wrong spot.