The most amazing thing happened in the last 24 hours.
It rained.
It's true what they say, that you don't know what you have until it's gone, and the rain has been gone for some time. Earlier this month we had about one inch over the course of three days, and before that it had not rained in SEVEN WEEKS. And on one hand, there's some benefits to this. I haven't cut my grass since July. You could plan an outdoor party and really not worry about getting wet. The Reds have had almost zero home rain outs.
However, in my mind the negatives outweigh the positives. My yard just isn't as pleasant without rain. The grass becomes dessicated and everything seems dusty and hot. My flowers and shrubs all wilt and wither, and the cool confines of my air conditioned home beckon me to just say "to heck with it" and go watch the game on television instead of frustrating myself outside.
But a little rain goes a long way. Already my grass looks greener, and at the right angle I can see a fuzz of fine green blades standing upright amongst the dormant masses. The leaves on my trees seem to be larger, less wrinkled, and my perennials look taller, fuller. It's just great.
It's easy to complain about the weather, the one factor in my yard that is truly beyond my control, but I believe you have to take the bad with the good. Without this unpleasant aridness we've been experiencing, there's no way that I would eek such joy from an inch of rain. Our recent weather has given me a perspective that allows me to marvel at the effects of even a minute amount of moisture can bring to my garden. And for that I am truly grateful.