Raindrops

Rain has been a more prominent feature of our weather-pattern than normal here in the UK. A few months ago were told that we were experiencing the worst drought for ages and that it would have to rain non-stop for months before the water restrictions and hosepipe-bans imposed in March could be lifted. Guess what? It has rained non-stop for months. Well, it seems like it anyway.

OK, since the water reserves in our undergroung aquifers are probably sufficiently topped-up now to keep us all supplied for quite a while, could we please have some nice sunny "classic" Autumn weather now?

Meanwhile, I'm taking photos of stuff with raindrops on it...

Cotinus "Royal Purple"



Cotinus



Dogwood

The Asparagus fern retains rain for a long time after it has fallen, each tiny spike of foliage holding on to its own tiny drop of moisture, making the plants shimmer with light as if covered in millions of little sequins:

There aren't many seeds on the Asparagus this year, probably because there were fewer bees about, and the flowers didn't get pollinated. Do you remember that earlier in the year I tried to germinate some Asparagus seeds? Well, the experiment was a total failure (dare I say "washout"?). None of the seeds germinated.

The Blueberry plants that I pruned so severely last month have produced a lot of new growth, which looks fresh and delicate in the rain.

Blueberry leaves


My container of Spring Onions ("White Lisbon Winter Hardy") is certainly well-irrigated:

Spring Onions

The raindrops on the onions look almost like bubbles:

Spring Onion

My Olive tree is probably wishing it were somewhere in the Mediterranean area right now...

Olive

And the chillis? Who knows.

Chilli

Drip; drip; drip.  Today I made some calls to people who fit / maintain / repair guttering on domestic properties. Voice mail. All of them. I expect they are too busy to give me a quote!