Dark, brooding, precipitating skies were occasionally brightened today by suddenly, briefly, escaping sunshine. The opposite was also true, on the trip we took into a waterlogged forest after purchasing three bags of compost at Ferndene Farm Shop.
I left the car when Jackie parked on the verge of the Thorney Hill end of Burley Road. My intention was to take a shot from the top of the hill of the waterlogged landscape stretching out below. A pair of siren mallards called me from a winterbourne lake some way down. Before I reached them the ducks had disappeared; dark indigo clouds loured overhead; pattering raindrops washed my hair; my woollen jacket took on the aroma of wet sheep; and I craved automatic wipers for my blurry specs.
As Magnus Magnusson on TV’s ‘Mastermind’ would have said, I thought, “I’ve started so I’ll finish”. I was wet, anyway. I failed to photograph the downhill expanse, but
I did capture raindrops sending ripples over the surface of the downhill running streams and the reflective pools that had been created by the recent days’ and last night’s storms. The forest fauna, more sensible than I, kept well under cover somewhere.
This afternoon Jackie planted a vast number of seedlings into nursery pots in the greenhouse and together we carried the
rusted Ace Reclaim bench to the concrete patio where it will provide a platform for larger planters.
This evening we dined on tangy lemon chicken; moist chilli-spiced ratatouille; tender green beans; and boiled new potatoes, with which Jackie drank Hoegaarden and I finished the Recital.
Are you Ferndene’s best customers?
takes me back to cross country runs when the pitches were waterlogged…
I wouldn’t have fancied that, Geoff. Thanks very much
my hero.. out in the downpour so we could appreciate the wet soggy landscape.. bravo.. loved the pictures..had a giggle at the comment about trying to see when its raining on one’s glasses.. thank goodness I don’t have to deal with that anymore.. your supper sounds delish!
Many thanks, Q 🙂
I’m enjoying a “Light and Stormy” (Ginger beer, Bacardi, and lime) as I catch up on your adventures. Broom (aka gorse?) in the photos – is so cheerful. Memories of Vancouver Island childhood.
Yes, gorse looks like broom (which I had to look up 🙂 ) I’m pleased to have stirred those memories. Thanks very much, Sue
Your header shot is lovely.
All that wet – let’s hope the weather remembers it is May soon, and let’s the sun return!
What a great idea wipers on specs would be – especially when wearing a mask and they get all fogged up!
Yes, indeed. Fortunately I only need specs for distance, so I can take them off when in shops etc. Thanks a lot, Emma.
Our weather is just like yours today, except we don’t have any breaks of sunshine. I’d hoped to be out and about with my camera today, but I won’t take it out in ‘real’ rain. A little drizzle is one thing, but we’re getting the beginning of a week’s worth of showers and thunderstorms. No work, AND no camera-wandering? I may have to clean house!
Mary Tang, a blogger who can’t physically do it any more, once sent Jackie a mug captioned “Gardening forever – Housework whenever”. Commiserations, Linda
It seems you made the best of a dreary day, Derrick. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks very much, Jill
You have and a lot more rain than us. Jokes about soggy Scotland may have to be rewritten.
🙂 Cheers, Tootlepedal
You’d have thought Hampshire would drain better, seeing as it’s right on the edge. I’m amazed by how much water you have laying about. It looks quite hazardous in places.
Indeed, Quercus. Thanks very much
As soon as it warms up your garden is going to look like a tropical forest after all the rain. Good luck!
I like the mood you’ve captured here – some lovely, haunting shots. We had heavy rain and hailstones today.
Much appreciated, Susan
I hope you didn’t catch a chill out in all that rain today. What rain you must have had recently! The photos are very atmospheric and so strange being totally void of animals!
No after effects for me 🙂 The lack of animals was the weirdest. Thanks very much, Clare
Good to know 🙂
Love this post. Proper weather.
Proper Yorkshire 🙂 Thanks a lot, Gary
Good capture of raindrops and reflections! I’m glad you are finding a use for the rusty old bench.
Thanks very much, JoAnna
It all looks very wet, at least to a person like me who lives in a semi-arid climate! We actually have had drizzle most of today, which will help the grasses grow — they’ll then dry out and lead to more fires. We began fire season over the weekend, with a 1000 acre fire that can’t be fought with water drops because of a low inversion layer! Fire season has truly begun here!
I hope the fires are manageable, Janet. Thanks very much.
Brooding skies make fabulous pictures.
Thanks very much, Laurie
Rain and puddles have a beauty all their own!
Thanks very much, Dwight
You are welcome!
Our intrepid photographer risks life and limb to bring us delightful photographs of the results of many precipitating skies. The reflections are lovely and your pictures bring home to me fresh damp smells and deep breaths of newly washed air. Sheer bliss!
May that bliss be reality for you, Anne. Thanks very much.
Hi D – that rusty bench will make a great planter base – good idea and nice recycle
also – like that Mastermind line ““I’ve started so I’ll finish”
Thanks very much, Yvette
That is what one might call ‘damp’.
You sound like a concert pianist with your last phrase: ” I finished the Recital”.
You are good at getting my little jokes, Yvonne. Cheers
Your mother has given me some tips, Derrick. 🙂
🙂
Your Yorkshire comment made me smile.
Those damp images are beautiful, I’m sorry you managed to get wet but I think it was worth it.
At the moment my little patch of Yorkshire is dry albeit wet underfoot, but according to the forecast heavy rain is expected. Dark clouds are looming and I plan to leave the house very soon before the downpour begins,
it would have been Graham’s 76th birthday today, so a cemetery visit is called for, and although it would be atmospheric I think I’d rather visit before the heavens open!
Yes – best avoided. Thanks very much, Sue
That landscape must be holding back a few million gallons of water. I love that garden seat, incidentally, it looks really old.
We bought it from an architectural salvage place some years ago. It is very heavy. Thanks very much, John
Your top photos look like the soggy landscape we see around here when it rains days on end.
Thanks a lot, Chrissy
You know how to make even a rainy-gloomy-sky day look beautiful! Wonderful photos! And I can hear the symphony of the rain in concert with the rippling-water! 🙂
(((HUGS))) 🙂
Thank you so much, Carolyn X
The header photo is a classic. That must have been a very satisfying outing. The watery landscapes are all very pleasing to behold.
Thank you so much, Uma
I particuarly like all of the gradations of color in the various landscapes.
Thank you very much, Liz
Such a wonderfully descriptive narrative, Derrick. Love all of your photos too. That rusty bench will soon spring to life with lots of colourful blooms, I’m sure.
Thank you so much, Sylvia
That was surely quite a storm. A little rain here in the East but nothing biblical.
Thanks a lot, Andrew
I enjoyed the photos! Rainy days have their own special beauty. It is mostly cloudy here today while the aerial wanderers contemplate raining on us. It is much needed here.
I hope you get some, Lavinia.Thanks very much
“Siren mallards” made me laugh. I’m glad they led you to being drenched and not dashed on the rocks–and those waterlogged reflections are beautiful.
I’m pleased you appreciated that and ran with it, Merril. Thanks very much
You’re welcome, Derrick. 😀
Raindrop reflection photos are marvelous, Derrick. They convey the atmosphere of the day perfectly.
Thank you very much, Dolly
You are very welcome, Derrick.
These are beautiful photos. The shots that most people wouldn’t bother to take. I’m glad you did. Sometimes I think the gloomy days produce the best photos.
Quite so, Mrs N. Thank you very much