"....is it just climate change that's doing wacky things to plants...or is fracking doing something else unknown also? What price are we paying, and for what?"
I don't know, Linda, but the lack of water and the intense heat certainly has changed the landscape of Austin. Everyone has a different opinion of why.
Daughter came over yesterday morning and helped her dad put up the hoop off the gameroom. I dragged pots over, and helped spread the plastic along the roof overhang. It's up and now I get to fill it up. l have to resist the urge to check out Lowes for anymore plants!