Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Rain down on me

It’s raining, it’s pouring
The old man is snoring

Bumped his head on the top of the bead
And couldn't get up in the morning


[blurry pic of Heuchera 'Plum Royale' gleaming in evening rain]

Yes! We have rain and I am so happy to see it. As I look at the fragile, hopeful chartreuse blush of the trees, I am chanting, “Please rain, please rain”. The trees in our city are terribly drought-stressed, the soil is so dry that the earth is contracting around peoples homes, causing the foundations to shift. Every day when I cross the river valley on my morning commute, I wince when I see the haggard trees on the south-facing bank that just aren’t even able to put out more than a few leaf buds this year. We have already been deep soaking our mature trees. But there is nothing like dear Mother Nature sending steady rains our way to sweeten the earth. I love the sound of it on the roof when I am in bed at night and the smell of it in the morning air.

Mother Nature, rain down on me. I’ll put on my dancing shoes.


A beautiful song from Canadian band Blue Rodeo's 1992 album Lost Together.

17 comments:

Rebecca @ In The Garden said...

Great post Ms S, you have such a positive outlook about the current/upcoming prcipitation. I'll take the rain gladly, but am DREADING the white stuff. Love Blue Rodeo, I've had 2 close encounters with them. Once on an airplane, and another at a concert in close quarters with no more than a few hundred people.

Anonymous said...

You know Ms. S, I live in the Pacific Northwest [Oregon--not all that far from you] where rain and complaining are in abundance but when I hear sentiments like yours I'm so thankful for the rain. Here's to more of that sweet stuff!

Anna said...

So glad to hear that your rain dance has done the trick. We have had a distinct shortage of the wet stuff this April but rumour has it that some is on its way this bank holiday weekend - perfect timing as usual :)

Kyna said...

I had no idea that Edmonton was so drought ridden. When I left 4 years ago, everything was so lush because of all the rain. I went to Vancouver for a sports tournament, and that was the place with the drought, everything was brown!
Well, I hope you get some rain! We kind of need some too, or we're on our way to a drought this summer.

Laurrie said...

The beauty of refreshing, nourishing, sustaining rain.. you've captured it. When we need it, it's so wonderful, except when it's too much! I hope this is the end of drought this season in your part of the world.

Northern Shade said...

I'm very happy that this rain has been lasting a few days. It should soak down into the soil and give the trees a steady drink. Most of the sloughs outside of town are just dry bowls.

Anonymous said...

Good to see you back!

The rain is great. I get to ignore my customers and catch up with blogs.

Deborah at Kilbourne Grove said...

It is dry here, we haven't had rain for three weeks, the garden really needs it. Glad it rained for you.

Northern Beauty Seeker said...

Rebecca: I just heard on the news today about the storms down your way, I hope you folks didn’t get it too bad! And, wow! To see Blue Rodeo in a small venue – that must have been such a treat. I would love that!

Grace: I would really like to go to Oregon some time. I hear it is spectacularly beautiful. For now, can we do tradesies on the rain and keep everyone happy? ;)

Anna: Of course it is going to arrive on a holiday weekend – it has to let you know how important it is! :)

Faith: Thanks for dropping by. After such a dry year last year, I am happy to dance in the rain and in the puddles. A grey cloud is my friend these days.

Kyna: According to the experts in the news lately, Edmonton has been getting drier for about 10 years now. It’s just in the last two or three years that the results are starting to show. Thanks for sending rain vibes our way. I wish the same for you!

Laurrie: It really is refreshing and nourishing. When I drove downtown this morning there was a clarity to the light that has been missing. Everything was washed clean and puddles gleamed along the sides of the streets. I couldn’t help but smile.

Northern Shade: I see we are supposed to get more into next week – yay! You are right about the countryside, I am starting to worry for people’s wells. Let’s keep it coming!

Z3B: Is that like a “snow day” when we were kids in school? :)

Deborah: Let’s hope we all get some of the wet stuff – I want to see more green!

sweetbay said...

I didn't realize that western Canada was in such a state of severe drought. Rain is like that though -- it's either feast or famine, with drought being followed by flood. Here we will have drought and then be replenished by the remnants of hurricanes, sometimes getting more than 8" in one day.

I hope your area keeps getting the rain it needs -- if the big trees are suffering the situation is dire indeed!

I love your new header photo, it's gorgeous.

Northern Beauty Seeker said...

Hi Sweet bay, Thank you for the compliment! I do love a great, cracking storm. July and August are when we seem to get those. In the meantime, I have made a deal with Mother Nature, it can rain from Tuesday to Thursday every week and I won't complain. :-)

Amy said...

Hello, Ms. S ~ I know how you feel. We were in a terrible drought last summer. However, our lakes did return to capacity....fairly quickly.
Let it rAiN!

Northern Beauty Seeker said...

Amy, thanks for the reminder that things can change again very quickly. I agree, let it rain!

Diane Schuller said...

we got a tiny amount of that rain up here but no where near as much as you guys did. We too need it desperately. I'm hoping for much more rain for all of us. I loved reading about how you too love the rain.

I also loved reading the Old Man is snoring rhyme -- haven't heard that in years!!

Northern Beauty Seeker said...

Diane, don't you just love that rhyme - it is the happiest rain song ever :-)

I'm wishing you big deep rolling clouds filled with rain.

CanadianGardenJoy said...

Ms S ! .. Even here in Kingston we are again back to drought conditions and hoping for more rain .. these little showers here and there do nothing but TEASE the ground and garden and rain barrel !! .. so be assured girl .. we are doing the rain dance here too .. but I realize YOU so NEED it as well .. lets all hold hands and chant ? LOL
Joy

Northern Beauty Seeker said...

Joy, your dance must be working, sort of - we got snow! Lots of it! And yes, it's very pretty...but....it's May! lol
Oh well, it is moisture so I cannot complain! :)