Something to Smile About

Can you guess what this is?It is an unusual sight, though I still remember when it was common. (Was it only 2 months ago when I was bragging about how much we had of it?!) It happened a week ago, I think the second time in six weeks:Rain! Seven days ago we had enough to wet the surface of the ground, but none since, and none in the forecast for the next 10 days. With the extended warm weather, our lawn usually would be green. But this photo taken during the rain shows a fading garden. The rain did not perk it up a bit:

At least we did get some rain. I know people only a few miles away who got none at all. We do the best we can. The watering can has become an important fixture in the garden.

I found this little guy hunkering in the bottom of my favorite watering can one morning when I went to fill it. I let him be and instead chose another watering can.This is not the same tree frog who lives in the the rain barrel in the woodland garden. That is on the other side of the garden, and this frog is smaller. But both are commended for their creative ways of staying moist!

While we are trying to keep shrubs alive, we also keep our birdbaths filled. Wild life is appreciative. Recently I caught a female cardinal enjoying this birdbath.Last week there was a hawk in the same birdbath. Something keeps knocking the ceramic top off of it. I suspect it is the hawk; I am afraid he will break it. I wish he would use one of our heavier concrete birdbaths! Of course, it could be a raccoon. Those critters often come through at night and wreak havoc.

Though still very dry, our temperatures have cooled considerably. 50's at night! 70s to 80s during the day! Almost perfect. Something to smile about. 

In the Wet Garden

I went to sleep last night to the heavy beat of rain and the wind blowing against the windows. While northern parts of the country are buried under deep drifts of snow, here we have only persistent rain. Early today there was a brief break in the clouds. Don't be fooled. That bit of blue sky was only a tease.I hurried out with my camera. I walked on spongy earth, and I am grateful we do not live in a flood plain.This is no flood. It is water in a birdbath!

It was a bejeweled morning, a short respite from the gloom, as dripping branches glistened in the soft light, though I could see black clouds gathering for another surge.

Flowers were sodden, some full blooms lying helpless on the ground where they had been carried by the storms:

I often kneel or lie down to get better views of the hellebores, but not today!

Sometimes the tiniest things are the most interesting. This hydrangea 'Lady in Red' bud is pushing out even as last year's dried blooms still cling nearby to the same shrub. I can't decide if the new bud looks more like a candle or an arrow head!

It was a good morning to admire freshly washed foliage. Anything variegated is my favorite!

A couple of years ago I went on a rampage and tried to eliminate all of the wild nandinas growing throughout my garden, nearly an impossible task, and here is one I missed. I need to get rid of those berries soon, but I couldn't bring myself to do it today.Nandina is invasive, but I love the bright berries!

I was grateful to get these few photos of the garden, for chilling rain soon returned and continued the rest of the day. My poor bones never did get warm. Sunshine is predicted for later in the week. If that happens and we also get some warmer temperatures, I think spring will gain too much momentum to stop, but one never knows for sure. Here one day is winter, the next day spring, around and around again until we are all confused, but eventually it works out!