The Rain Sodden Garden

I have to say this...I am a fair weather gardener. We've had some rain this weekend and I can just feel the weeds growing. I don't mind working in the garden when things are basically under control. The weeds intuitively know that I avoid garden work when it rains. The plants are happy...they don't mind the chaos that weeds make. Things are overgrown and unwieldy. The Geraniums, that were bright and beautiful have taken on a brownish tinge. The Bunny Tails are drooping. Last week they were straight and swaying in the breeze. The Lilies have their huge seed pods standing tall with maybe a dead petal or two hanging on...to remind me of how beautiful they were. The ground below is covered with slimy wet petals. The Russian Sage is bending to the ground and is now in the way of the dreaded lawnmower. Lady's Mantle...you should see it. The bright green blossoms are gone and are replaced by drooping, brown, dried up, stems where blossoms once were. The Roses...ah the Roses are sad looking. The velvety open flowers are shriveled and curled. Looking out my window to the woods....everything looks pretty. But take a walk with me....the Sunflowers have 6 feet of foliage with tiny brownish sunflowers on top. St Francis is trying to peek over the pot of very tall Cosmos. The clematis is finished. Only a few purple blossoms are clinging to the vines. If you look beyond the border...wildflowers are spent and the world of weeds has taken over. The best thing about the woods is the appearance of the Susans. They stand tall and beautiful through all kinds of weather. Just keep those pesky beetles away from them...or the flowers will be minus petals and chewed up.

Now look on the bright side. After a day or two of cleaning up, the dried Geraniums will be cut off and those lovely new stems with buds will be given a chance to open. The Bunny Tails will stand tall, when the rain stops. Lily stalks will be cut down and the green remains will fill in the blank spots. The Russian Sage will be lopped off and is going to find a home farther back in the border. Lady's Mantle will be trimmed of all the dead spent flowers and will look pretty again...all in a row at the front of the border. Roses will be deadheaded and the beautiful buds will open to glorious flowers again. The flower garden will be trimmed and manicured and made ready for the appearance of new flowers in the borders. Fall will be here, with the colors of the season. Mums and Asters will be on parade. The show is about to begin...guess I should get out there and make this rain sodden garden presentable.

Balisha