Oh glorious storms!
It's monsoon season in the desert and finally, there is rain.
Will a rain cloud make its way over your house in this neck of the woods?
If you are lucky, maybe.
Monsoon season technically runs from about mid-late June to September.
From experience, for us on our parcel of earth, the range is about July to the end of August.
Monsoon storms typically brew up in the afternoon after a crazy hot day, and the funny thing?
It can rain two streets away, and never on yours, or vice versa.
It depends on what clouds you get.
You might just get a phantom monsoon, wind darkness clouds, and no rain.
It can rain on the east side of town, and be sunny on the northwest side, or vice versa.
June is so hot you can hardly stand it, 100's + forever.
You beg and plead with the skies for rain.
It doesn't rain here very often, and we had not seen rain for months.
(we do get rain in winter, and some snow even in late winter for 1 day or so)
So far, we have had about 3 good rain storms this monsoon season.
Monsoon season doesn't mean it will rain every day.
It only means, if you are really lucky, it might rain once a week.
And that, that is B L I S S.
It's so exciting when a storm rolls in.
Sure, as soon as it stops raining the sun comes out again.
Which means it's the only time really, that it's humid here.
Normally it's so dry, if you have curly hair it goes straight.
But right now, my wavy hair is puffs of crazy ringlets.
Miles looks like his hair was professional crimped after playing in the rain.
These storms are so exciting, and beloved, that I was inspired to take tons of photos to share with you...
So here we go.
Monsoon season at my house.
The time where everything is green, not just the places where you water.
But, everything.
If I see a sprinkle, that's it.
I am outside begging pleading and praying up to the sky.
Please please please.
More more more.
And then...
The other day, after some heavy duty sky begging, this happened.
YES!
Huge droplets on a crazy hot day.
Even some hail falls.
Then rain rain rain.
I, determined to be in it the whole time.
So excited for the earth to become moist, and feel some relief.
Poor dry parched earth.
I planted my zinnia seeds 2 times this year.
All but a couple were eaten by rabbits.
Of course, there was little else for them to eat, but my garden.
So, I gave up and opted for great big pots.
But now, now with the rain, the gardens explode.
The front flower garden looks so happy in the rain, doesn't it?
Thankfulness bursts out of you in endless glee.
Droplets like no gift you could ever ask for or desire.
And then, the fruits.
Peaches...
Grapes.
The summer shifts and turns.
Ripening.
There you are, right in the midst of the summer moments.
"This Magic Moment...."
Time, washing past you.
And so, I decide, we shall be a part of every rain storm.
Soaked to the bone goodness.
Giantest sunflowers droop, as seeds are ready to fall.
14" diameter, just wow, self seeded too.
As the rain lets up a bit, we tiptoe to what I call, Willie Wonka Land.
Where peach tree meets a corridor of oleanders and eucalyptus.
Where peach tree droops, and branches arch with gifts.
Heavy with so many gifts.
Sigh...
It's peach heaven.
Heavy heavy branches.
Every single branch covered completely with fruit.
Hundreds and hundreds of freestone peaches.
Baking like mad has begun.
This is just 1/4 of the tree, with wood posts and chairs holding up heavy branches...
You stand underneath, quietly looking around.
You barely touch a peach, brush your hand near it, and if it falls right off into your hand - well then, you eat it.
The pit falls right out.
The fruit succulent and sweet.
No tartness at all.
Just perfect.
You eat peaches until your belly gets round and full.
And then, you take one with you on a walk to see what your growing things look like after the rain.
Pumpkin vines explode like mad.
Time to inspect.
We have a domed little garden, and behind that, a chicken wire enclosed garden with 8 beds, and a center planting area.
I should mention that Mister Lovee built these backyard veggie gardens for me.
I helped dig up the beds and lay the mesh to keep gophers out, but he built them so that critters couldn't get in, enclosing them with chicken wire. I do all the planting and harvesting.
(Thank you Lovee, I love my veggie gardens!!)
You remind yourself of why you keep a pumpkin patch, and wonder why you let the vines go crazy this year?
Vines pour out of the enclosed gardens.
(next year I'll go back to my pumpkin patch, silly me)
Garden treats plump and expand like mad.
Growing bigger and bigger...
Pumpkins, red and white onions, basil upon basil, tomatillos, dill, red bell peppers, tomatoes of all kinds, arugula, 10 different kinds of pumpkins, so many leeks, a fresh wave of strawberries, green onions, lettuces - and a very big fulfilled heart sigh.
Oh my goodness, it's a jungle in there these days.
You know you have changed when...
A clothing rack, is now used for pumpkin vines to crawl around.
Leaf explosion city!
The domed little garden beckons...
Let us in, let us in...
Bees buzz about, doing their pollinating work.
As we enter.
A place where self seeding sunflowers droop, and pumpkins hang from the ceiling like chandeliers.
Pumpkin loving heart, oh my!
And, as the last of the storm passes by, the sun comes out in that western sky.
As do little friends.
Hello Mister Tarantula.
Or is it Miss or Ma'am?
The pups enjoy the moist earth.
As the hot steams rises when the rain leaves.
We nibble around the yard, Lovee and me.
The grape vine was so kind this year.
We enjoyed several bunches, sweet like candy.
And then, the zinnias...
These are giant zinnias, and boy do they love water.
Carnival Zinnia Below.
Yellow and white dinner-plate dahlias peek out too.
All staked and safe.
And so here we are...
Right smack in the middle of monsoon season, and summer.
The waves of flowers starting to come in.
Thick moist clouds dancing over mountains early in the morning.
Burned off by the sun, and returning in the afternoon, if your wishes come true.
And boy oh boy, when they do...
You'll know where to find us.
Soaked and smiling, in the Arizona desert.
Where time ticks by on long hot days, at curiously rapid speeds.
But how?
Time, where are you going?
And age, age changes you.
Because for the first time, you are happy that summer lasts until October in these parts.
And there will be much more warmth to come.
Hooooray!
Ever so many pictures for you, hope I didn't bore you silly!
Love, Vanessa
