We just had a stretch of sunny, dry, and reasonably warm weather and now the rain has finally arrived to give the garden some needed drenching. I was so glad with the sunny and warm spell we have just had, with the weather in the UK being so unpredictable you can't help but be grateful and take advantage whenever stretches of fine weather arrives. For you can't be certain how long it will last for when rain and gray clouds take over that can last for days on end too. With that warm spell at least we were able to do loads of things that warranted dry and sunny weather. 
A sunny day with clear blue skies as the backdrop of this palm leaf, this photo summarises what it felt like the past few days, even weeks!
But to see so much rain here today is a definite welcome sight (and a rare occasion that I'm actually saying that!). The ground was starting to dry up already with having no rain for days and, with it being spring, lots of plants are needing the extra moisture to support their new growth.With the arrival of rain comes a change of atmosphere and mood within the garden. The past few days it felt 'summer like' and we almost had a barbecue had if not we were too busy doing other things. We did have some Ice Cream the weekend before last whilst working outside, a very unusual activity for the time of the year. But feeling 'summer like' made me miss feeling 'spring like' a bit, with the latter I associate sunny days with a feeling of dampness and nip in the morning air. And today that feeling is restored and it was great to wander down the garden after work whilst it was drizzling.
Aralia elata 'Aureovariegata'
Aesculus parviflora
A few weeks delayed compared to last year but it's great to finally see 'Cousin It' once again...
Syneilesis palmata
And will this flower this year? Probably not but I like it mainly for its foliage and is always one of the first ones to come up in our garden.
Cardiocrinum giganteum
This one is now showing signs of creeping and crawling away, lovely!
Chrysosplenium macrophyllum
Several herbaceous perennials are already sprouting like these ones..
Tinantia pringlei
Hosta
Persicaria virginiana var. filiformis
Even the Zantedeschia in our small wildlife pond is already sprouting...
Zantedeschia aethiopica
The giants are waking up too, like these two...
Tetrapanax papyrifera 'Rex'
Rheum palmatum
These delicate foliage beauties however are wide awake already and looking fresh...
Arum italicum 'Marmoratum'
Daphne odora 'Rebecca'
The weather may have become more rainy now and slighty colder too (and snowy in the far northern parts of the country) but here at least daytime temperatures are still good enough to counteract the chill in the early mornings. We have been having frosts almost every other morning during the sunny spell and so far the plants that are sprouting have been unfazed by them so I'm not worried at all with the cooler temperatures we'll have in the next few days.I love sunny days but rainy days has got its own special charm too. And I felt it was most especially charming to see this afternoon at it helps the jungle wake up from its slumber. Exciting times ahead!Mark :-)
