Magic Rain and Petrichor.
To me, rain really is magic, especially when it comes to the garden. We have been diligently watering by hand during this extended dry spell, using rainwater collected in the tank and from the mains when the tank ran dry, but after a period of rain the plants just go crazy. It must be that water straight from the clouds has more goodness than that same water used a few hours or days later, maybe the impact of the drops on the ground and leaves promotes growth, maybe it is the temperature of rain as apposed to that from a can. Whatever the reason, we are very grateful, the courgettes and squashes seem to swell no end overnight, new fruits appearing where I swear there were none before. Flowers burst out on their stalks, the wildlife is more active … and then there’s the petrichor.
Petrichor is described in the dictionary as being ‘The distinctive scent that accompanies the first rain after a long, warm, dry spell’ and that is certainly true. I associate it with thunderstorms, that earthy, damp, sweet smell we all know - it is the aroma of rain and such a wonderful word. Waking up in the morning, going out into the garden with a cup of tea and inhaling ‘that’ smell when there has been rain overnight is a total tonic. If it makes us feel good, it must do the same for the plants. Magic rain you see!
We are known for our rain here in Britain - Wales even more, so being on the border we are usually quite well provided for. These last few weeks though, have been unusually dry…and hot in patches. It has been a full time job watering both in the greenhouses and outside - just enough to keep things alive but not so much as to be frivolous (cans not hosepipe and all that). The welcome clouds arrived a few days ago and everything has had a growth spurt so I am keeping fingers crossed that it will continue, although more hot, dry weather is said to be on the horizon towards the end of the month. Its not just the plants, the frog ponds made from old planters sunk into the ground and the birdbaths - old chimney pots with plant saucers in the tops - need topping up daily too. Water is so precious for all life, not just for us thirsty humans, the river near our house has been so low, hardly a trickle running over the weir, areas of still water where the current can’t reach trapping stranded fish. A couple of good downpours make all the difference…long may it rain!
