After the searing heat from the last couple of days (yes even I agree is was definitely the wrong sort of warm and sultry summer weather) today we woke up to gently overcast skies and even more gentle rain. I could feel my garden crying with relief.
I was working this morning and I delayed going out for about twenty minutes as the rain was heavier at that point, however I decided the best thing to do - was to go out and get wet with the gardens.... so I did. And whilst I listened to swallows chittering over head with my hands in damp soil I kept catching myself smiling.
And it was wonderful.
The smell of petrichor, the taste of the mist as it swirled around my head, the light pinprick of droplets on my forehead and the accumulating rain droplets on my eyelashes were magical.
In Africa - rain is a gift, and now in the uk - today - it was too, our precious thirsty garden is just that - very thirsty.
I hope you were gifted with some rain today - gentle, cooling and essential xxxx
Not a spot of rain here despite the forecast of thunderstorms. Desperately trying to keep the edibles alive - everything else is dead or dying!
ReplyDeletehope you get some soon - where I work (a walled kitchen garden) it has been beyond hot and dry and we have had to do some serious watering to keep the fruit and veg alive. I am hoping that today's rain here will go some way to alleviate the parched soil x
DeleteIs it me, or is the Verbena bonariensis better this year than possibly it has ever been?
ReplyDeleteWhen you have finished with it, please could you send some of the H2O up here?
Ours have done well this year too, I usually lose them after a year or two, so last year I lifted them, potted them up and kept them in the greenhouse, come spring I put them back out - pot and all ! and they are bigger than ever before!
DeleteA few fleeting drops yesterday - we are promised more tomorrow. My garden is dry a foot deep so desperate for rain - it's been very dry this year. Lovely photos accompanying your post.
ReplyDeletefingers crossed for more tomorrow - thank you re my photos :)
DeleteA quick shower today with more forecast for tomorrow. Fingers crossed. Arilx
ReplyDeleteWe still have a bit of rain now - feels like we are in the clouds - cool and damp :)
Deletegermany had its share on the heatwave too - but thankfully today it was overcasted and then, in the late afternoon, it rained a bit! and yes - i too could hear a big SIGH from the garden and sourrounding forest......
ReplyDeletebeautiful photos!
xxx
Today has been overcast again with gentle rain most of the day - thank goodness, the earth has just soaked it up xx
DeleteShowers due tomorrow here
ReplyDeleteHope you got some rain! We had gentle rain most of the day, it just soaked in which was lovely
DeleteI understand how it can be a gift in hot, dry summers and here in summer if rain is on the way, you can actually smell it, before it arrives, then after it starts, there is a sort of heady scent that permeates the air. Always a welcome relief, though we don't need much at the moment, as this winter has been quite so far. Although you know what it is like in the extreme heat, I'll bet most of UK were rather astonished by the rare weather event. Take care and hugs.
ReplyDeleteThe way the weather is going, this is going to be more common sadly - this little green island is in for a shock!
DeleteI've learnt a new word now - petrichor!
ReplyDeleteYou are welcome! 😊
DeleteThe gift of rain, how true. I too was out in it but only at the end when it was heavy drizzle. I'm still saving water to use around the garden as it is not possible to tell how much more rain we will get. At least the cooler weather will help the plants. By chance I bought another Verbena bonariensis and it is in a pot now as the ground was too hard. I'll do what you did with yours and see how I go.
ReplyDeletex
Good luck with the verbena, this gentle rain has just soaked in - lets hope we get a bit more!
DeleteThe petrichor scent has been wonderful, but I'll have the sunshine back now please. X
ReplyDeleteHaving just walked through several hours of rain - yes (ish) I'd like the sun back but also seeing how parched the earth is - no - it needs to rain a whole lot more! 😊☔🌦️
DeleteSome lovely photos Kate. It was 42 degrees on the car temp gauge on Tuesday, we were melting. We must get very lucky with our verbena ... it self seeds everywhere in our garden and I have it growing in and amongst everything. I have learned to recognise the tiny seedlings amongst the weeds :)
ReplyDeleteVerbenas love free draining soil and warmth with dryish winters - my garden is the complete opposite haha - heavy clay and rainy winters - so they rot, this year seems to have worked by putting them in pots and lifting them and storing in the greenhouse over winter
DeleteA lovely shot of the stalk of tiny purple flowers, they really show up against the dark background - very artistic :-) We have had some rain here but not a great lot and mostly of the fine drizzly stuff. I took the dogs on the field early this morning expecting to get wet feet as I only had sandals on but the grass was dry.
ReplyDeleteThank you - I love verbenas! The ground is SO dry despite the rain - was walking today and most of it was in the rain, but the ground was brick hard and cracked - need lots of slow deep sinking rain x
DeleteWonderful photos! It's been distinctly soggy since we got back on Saturday morning, huge ginger coloured slugs everywhere. What I'd give to go back to the 40°C heat of Greece! xxx
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