After the Rain

After days of heavy showers and longer periods of rain mixed with hail, the sun suddenly came out. The effect it had on the garden was magical – the plants looked healthier, the leaves greener and shinier and the colours of flowers intensified. Raindrops clung to foliage and blooms and reflected the light of the sun.

The constant splashing of rain and the noisy hail banging on the top of our conservatory suddenly stopped and were replaced with bird song. the clear flute-like song of Blackbirds and the repetitive notes of the Song Thrush sounded rich and clear.

Rain sits in shining droplets acting as tiny mirrors and prisms affecting the light. Each droplet sits like a bubble of liquid mercury.

The pools are filled to the brim! The rill is overflowing into the surrounding gravel and the wildlife pool is overflowing adding much-needed water to the bog garden alongside.

In the first photo we are looking through the fresh red leaves of a Japanese Acer at the wildlife pool.

The photo below is taken from the decking end of the pool and shows how the rain has raised the water level right up to the deck, while the following one is taken from the bog garden end.

Colours of flowers and fresh spring leaves are enriched by the rain drops.

The rain even tried to fill up a pottery vase on the garden table in the Chicken Garden.

The benefit of all that rain after a year of drought in 2011 shows in the rapid growth of herbaceous plants in our borders. The greens look greener and the growth is lush and exuberant. The Trellis Bed looks so full after a few days of rain.