Wind storm - 6-23-04
Last Wednesday I had been listening to the radio and they were reporting that the cold front was coming in the from the northwest, and that it was raining up in St. Cloud and all of that, and that the front was going to the come through the Cities and to the north somewhat. About 5:00 pm, it was getting cloudier and then the wind picked up and turned either into a mini-tornado or a huge downburst or something. It lasted all of 35 seconds, but the trees in front of the office here were at a right angle, and the havoc that the wind can do in such a short time is truly awesome.
We had some damage to alot of our container production areas, especially where trees came down on top of the fence, and consequently on top of our containers, but the worst damage was in our shade garden and hosta production areas. As you can see by the photos - we lost several big trees. (See more storm damage photos in the Summer 2004 gallery.)
Since we know of a source for good quality trees, we are turning this into an opportunity since the old “farmstead” trees are no longer there, and we’re going to plant several different varieties of trees we sell in our display. In addition to seeing the shade garden, our customers will now be able to see larger versions of the trees we sell in containers.
It makes you aware so much of how devastating a F5 tornado must be. The noise on this windstorm and the damage it caused made you sit up and take notice. I can’t think of what an F5 would be like. I think I’ve seen about as much wind as I’d like to for awhile!
