I wasn't sure I would have anything to share for Wednesday Vignette, hosted by Anna at Flutter&Hum, having been busy with things other than finding beautiful sights to photograph, but when I woke up this morning and saw nearly two inches of rain in the rain gauge I knew what my "vignette" would be:
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I know many people are feeling the loss of summer as Fall officially arrives this Friday and the rainy season in the PNW has begun. Some are already bemoaning the rain, after only a few days. I've caught myself several times on the verge of telling them to "suck it up" or something along those lines, but then I think of how I start griping as soon as the temperatures approach 80 in spring (and continue to do so all summer...). It really wouldn't be fair for me to say anything other than "I'm sorry you're hurting," and try not to rub my glee at the return of rain in their faces too much. I understand your pain (especially those who have to work in the cold rain), I just don't share it, yet. Personally, I won't be feeling it until long after the last leaves have fallen, when my young garden is looking far too bare and we've had some hard, anxiety-inducing freezes from Arctic air masses (hopefully this winter won't be as bad as last). That said, this post is all about sharing my happiness about the rain, so sorry in advance to any who are already feeling the onset of S.A.D.
It's been such a dry, hot summer. Fires have been raging all across the PNW, and even areas well away from the fires have suffered from repeated periods of smoke-filled air, forcing people with respiratory issues (like me) to stay inside or wear protective masks. Even more than the heat and dryness, the smoke was intensely depressing for me. The cool, moist air, washed clean by the rain, is a welcome relief to my lungs and a balm to my spirit, withered by the dry heat of summer. More than anything, I feel relief on behalf of the firefighters, and people who have had to evacuate their homes due to the many fires this summer. Native plants and wildlife have been very stressed, as well, and I feel happiness for the trees and other plants drinking in this rain after a long dry season, and the many birds visiting the garden now that they don't have to huddle around whatever water source they can find. The greens in the garden are more intense under the cloudy skies, and the flowers of autumn glow rather than glare harshly. The sound of water dripping from leaves soothes me.
Another reason I welcome the return of rain is that it makes planting so much easier, especially in a large garden where it can be hard to keep new plants, scattered so widely, watered. My mind has been working over new plantings and plants that need moved for the last month, and now it's finally time to get started!
I know many people are feeling the loss of summer as Fall officially arrives this Friday and the rainy season in the PNW has begun. Some are already bemoaning the rain, after only a few days. I've caught myself several times on the verge of telling them to "suck it up" or something along those lines, but then I think of how I start griping as soon as the temperatures approach 80 in spring (and continue to do so all summer...). It really wouldn't be fair for me to say anything other than "I'm sorry you're hurting," and try not to rub my glee at the return of rain in their faces too much. I understand your pain (especially those who have to work in the cold rain), I just don't share it, yet. Personally, I won't be feeling it until long after the last leaves have fallen, when my young garden is looking far too bare and we've had some hard, anxiety-inducing freezes from Arctic air masses (hopefully this winter won't be as bad as last). That said, this post is all about sharing my happiness about the rain, so sorry in advance to any who are already feeling the onset of S.A.D.
It's been such a dry, hot summer. Fires have been raging all across the PNW, and even areas well away from the fires have suffered from repeated periods of smoke-filled air, forcing people with respiratory issues (like me) to stay inside or wear protective masks. Even more than the heat and dryness, the smoke was intensely depressing for me. The cool, moist air, washed clean by the rain, is a welcome relief to my lungs and a balm to my spirit, withered by the dry heat of summer. More than anything, I feel relief on behalf of the firefighters, and people who have had to evacuate their homes due to the many fires this summer. Native plants and wildlife have been very stressed, as well, and I feel happiness for the trees and other plants drinking in this rain after a long dry season, and the many birds visiting the garden now that they don't have to huddle around whatever water source they can find. The greens in the garden are more intense under the cloudy skies, and the flowers of autumn glow rather than glare harshly. The sound of water dripping from leaves soothes me.
Another reason I welcome the return of rain is that it makes planting so much easier, especially in a large garden where it can be hard to keep new plants, scattered so widely, watered. My mind has been working over new plantings and plants that need moved for the last month, and now it's finally time to get started!