Blissful Rain plus photos

by Andy

The rain over the last two days was just the thing for the garden and the gardeners. A little over an inch in 24 hours.

After the extreme planting push of Monday and Tuesday, when the rain started to fall on Tuesday evening it felt like a blessing. The soil has been dry and the dirt clods have been hard like rocks, so kneeling would make little dents in my knees. Working with a trowel or a hoe would kick up dust and it would settle on me like another filmy layer of skin. But a rain like this softens the earth to the eye and to the touch. The rain settles the dust and gives the air a new clarity. All of the plants had been watered in at planting time, but the rain does an infinitely better job, not to mention all the potatoes, onions, and garlic that had been patiently waiting for a dose of agua.

The rain reduces my stress level and forces me to slow down a little, so while it was good for the garden, it was equally good for the gardener. My list of high priority things I could do during the rain was short, so Wednesday I planted in the hoophouses and then took a well-deserved nap. 

Today I snapped some photos of the garden to glory in the rain.

Our two moms; soon they'll be out and about with their shared chick.

Cross fingers, but it looks like it could be a good apple year.

There should be some plums too.

Summer carrots are up. That wet shiny soil will crust up when it dries out.

Ailsa Craig onions in the garden.

Chesnook Garlic. Big already!

The currants are coming along.

Roses by our driveway. The scent can be overpowering.