Friday, July 1, 2011

Raindrops on Roses

... and whiskers on kittens, bright copper kettles, and warm woolen mittens.... I found myself singing this song from "The Sound of Music" a couple of days ago when we had some completely unexpected but very welcome rain.

Break o'Day with nepeta


Summer rain might not be a big deal to some of you, but here in San Jose average monthly rainfall in June is 0.10 inches.

A flower of feverfew looking up at a raindrop

This month we have had all of 1.35 inches, almost half of which fell on Tuesday.


Geranium 'Rozanne' tumbling down my retaining wall



I got only a brief reprieve from watering: it is back to the 80s today, but I am very happy nevertheless: rain water is so much more beneficial to plants around here because city water is extremely alkaline and salty.

Mme. Bérard, tea-noisette


Sprinkler water often leaves white residue on leaves and some plants show quite pronounced leaf burn by summer's end resulting from salt accumulation after a long season of watering...

I liked the orderly arrangement of raindrops on the stems of this heuchera


So I hope I will be forgiven for running outside and happily snapping pictures of raindrops, such a rare and welcome sight!

Trumpet vine  - blooms cascading down with the rain

A dolphin! Or a whale? Salvia patens Blue Angel

Isabelle Sprunt, tea, not really liking the rain... The mildew is gone, but blackspot came to replace it...

Beautiful ripe hips on Purple Pavement, a rugosa


Posted by Masha at 1:05 AM
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37 comments:

  1. GigaJuly 1, 2011 at 1:24 AM

    Kwiaty w kroplach deszczu są piękne i szczęśliwe,że deszcz je umył i ochłodził.Pozdrawiam ciepło

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  2. Christine @ the Gardening BlogJuly 1, 2011 at 3:13 AM

    I love summer rain! (I live in a winter rainfall area, so also welcome summer rain!) Your photographs are all beautiful - such beautiful flowers.

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  3. Dani P.July 1, 2011 at 3:16 AM

    My garden would need some rain too ... Lovely pictures !

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  4. FlowerLady LorraineJuly 1, 2011 at 3:58 AM

    What absolutely gorgeous photos, every one of them. We've been getting some much needed rain also, and everything is happier including this gardener. :-)

    Happy Gardening ~ FlowerLady

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  5. AnonymousJuly 1, 2011 at 4:05 AM

    Really beautiful images Masha. Just stunning. The rain makes everything so fresh and new. We too get little rain in June/July normally, but this year has been a wet one and the garden is loving it.

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  6. Tatyana@MySecretGardenJuly 1, 2011 at 4:28 AM

    Very nice, Masha! I love the image of a feverfew looking up at a raindrop!

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  7. ProfessorRoushJuly 1, 2011 at 6:27 AM

    I have Purple Pavement as well; a great Rugosa; well-behaved and, as you noted, the hips are fabulous.

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  8. agea happinessJuly 1, 2011 at 6:47 AM

    beautiful photos:)

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  9. MashaJuly 1, 2011 at 7:49 AM

    Thank you, Giga.

    Christine, you know what I mean then. Rain was great, even though I am back to supplemental watering already.

    Dani, thank you, and I hope you get rain too!

    FlowerLady, thank you, and I am happy for you too.

    Donna, thank you for your compliments, I hope my garden also shows some signs of benefitting from the rains.

    Tatyana, thank you, that was my favorite image too.

    Professor, I am glad you do. I agree it is a nice compact plant, and well-behaved (except for suckering...)

    Agea, thank you and welcome.

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  10. Carolyn @ Carolyn's Shade GardensJuly 1, 2011 at 9:49 AM

    Flowers always look exquisite with raindrops on them. Could you send some rain here too?

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  11. organicgardendreamsJuly 1, 2011 at 10:08 AM

    Masha, I can totally relate to your joy about summer rain, I wish we would get some, too, but nada so far. Some of your photos are really artistic and give a fresh perspective on the often photographed rain drops like the one with the feverfew and the raindrops on the heuchera. Thanks for the exciting visual feast!
    Christina

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  12. MashaJuly 1, 2011 at 11:11 AM

    Carolyn, I wish.... We only had enough to last us two days without supplemental water.

    Christina, thank you for your compliments, they are much appreciated. I enjoyed taking those pictures.

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  13. b-a-gJuly 1, 2011 at 12:02 PM

    I've been dead-heading my roses almost every day (because it makes me feel like a proper gardener!). I'd forgotten how beautiful the rosehips can be.

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  14. MashaJuly 1, 2011 at 12:54 PM

    B-a-g, I understand. Deadheading roses is a great excuse for me to walk in the garden. I deadhead everything except rugosas because their hips are the most beautiful.

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  15. UnknownJuly 1, 2011 at 2:42 PM

    Pięknie wyglądają roślinki skąpane w deszczu ,bardzo dobrze ujęłaś kropelki deszczu .Mascha u mnie nie widziałam jeszcze milinu białego z różowym gardłem ....jest cudowny .
    Pozdrawiam Bogusia

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  16. MashaJuly 1, 2011 at 2:58 PM

    Thank you, Bogusia, I am glad you liked them.

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  17. MashaJuly 1, 2011 at 7:44 PM

    Gracias

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  18. AnonymousJuly 2, 2011 at 1:26 AM

    Your photos are all lovely but I particularly love the Heuchera pic!

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  19. MashaJuly 2, 2011 at 9:27 AM

    Thank you, thesproutling. I am glad you took a look at these pictures.

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  20. LonaJuly 2, 2011 at 11:43 AM

    Hi Masha. I love pictures of raindrops or water drops on flowers. Yours are spectacular! The roses are so beautiful. Have a wonderful weekend.

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  21. HolleyGardenJuly 2, 2011 at 12:08 PM

    So glad you got rain! Something to rejoice about! It does make such a difference. The plants love rain - they seem to only tolerate watering! Beautiful pics.

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  22. MashaJuly 2, 2011 at 2:41 PM

    Thank you, Lona, I am glad you liked them.

    Holley, you are so right about rain and sprinklers... I hope your well gives your garden enough water, I am looking forward to hearing about the progress of that project.

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  23. letrecivetteJuly 2, 2011 at 3:10 PM

    Wonderful post dear Masha!!
    Have a nice Sunday!
    Monica

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  24. Cathy and SteveJuly 2, 2011 at 5:24 PM

    Just gorgeous~ Glad you got some much needed rain! I absolutely love that trumpet vine. Ours are dark red and yellow... I've never seen one that color!

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  25. Beth at PlantPostingsJuly 2, 2011 at 5:50 PM

    Masha: Your plants look extremely happy with that fresh, natural shower! Stunning photos, and indeed you must be forgiven--and in fact encouraged--to dance in the rain whenever possible if you capture so many enchanting photos that way!

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  26. MashaJuly 2, 2011 at 5:55 PM

    Grazie, Monica, for the compliments and wishes.

    Cathy, we have the red and yellow ones too. I think most people like them in brighter colors, which is why perhaps the pink one is harder to find...

    Beth, thank you for the encouragement, it is much appreciated.

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  27. debsgardenJuly 3, 2011 at 12:47 PM

    Wonderful photos, and, believe me, those raindrops look good to me. We had a drought through much of June, and with the intense heat, plants really suffered. We have had a little rain since then; we always hope for late afternoon thunderstorms.

    BTW, my youngest son now lives in Cupertino, and he brags about your cool summer temps!

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  28. MashaJuly 3, 2011 at 6:47 PM

    Deb, thank you, and I hope you get more rain. Cupertino is a little closer to the bay and so is cooler than San Jose. The Bay Area is full of different micro climates, it makes living here so interesting.

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  29. OlaJuly 4, 2011 at 5:58 AM

    Piękne deszczowe kwiaty:)

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  30. MashaJuly 4, 2011 at 8:08 AM

    Thank you, Aszka, and nice to meet you.

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  31. AlistairJuly 4, 2011 at 10:21 AM

    Masha, your plants look like they enjoyed the rain. I will check out and see if I can send you some of ours.

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  32. MashaJuly 4, 2011 at 10:45 AM

    Alistair, please do!

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  33. TiinaJuly 5, 2011 at 12:31 AM

    Masha,so lovely raindrop pictures.You have so beautiful plants in your garden,love them<3

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  34. sweetbayJuly 5, 2011 at 10:49 AM

    Usually only .1" for the month of June ~ that is astounding. Glad for you that you got some rain. Your photos are gorgeous!!

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  35. LaurenceJuly 7, 2011 at 5:52 PM

    Superbes photos Masha ! Un vrai plaisir pour les yeux ! Félicitations et merci !
    Amitiés florales,
    Laurence

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  36. MashaJuly 7, 2011 at 6:17 PM

    Sweetbay, yes, we are on watering duty from May till November...

    Laurence, merci!

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  37. rosa complicataAugust 11, 2011 at 4:14 AM

    amazing pictures!!!! thank you

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I am so glad you have stopped by!

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