April Showers Bring May Flowers!

The Yoshino Cherry Tree in full bloom, swaying in the rain.

Violas and primulas, jumbled together and loving the rain.

Hiding amid the tulip greenery.

The yard literally turned green, Friday morning, as a glorious half inch of rain fell on Blooming Hill after enduring a very hot and dry spell, this past week, which, coincidentally, goes along with the legendary homage to precipitation in the short and sweet poem of "April flowers bring May Flowers!"   You could just see the grass, bushes and trees lapping up the wetness and relishing the early spring sweetness as raindrops danced in the fountains. And, for once, no hard driving wind came along to spoil the party--just steady, lovely rain.

Winter reds turning to spring greens.

"Buttercup" star magnolia blossoms collecting raindrops.

Tulips and hyacinths unfolding.

This famous saying, April showers bring May flowers, came about way back in 1557 when a merry and wise old English chap by the name of Thomas Tusser compiled a collection of writings titled "A Hundred Good Points of Husbandry" as in thrifty farming techniques.  In terms of the month of April, he wrote a short, two line poem that actually went like this: "Sweet April showers, do bring May flowers" explaining that this month brings about big 
changes in the seasons from snows to rains to growing things. Since April has already taken us on a roller coaster ride from temperatures in the 30's and 40's and freezing rain, to temps in the low 90's with blazing sun, to rainy days and high humidity and back into the 40's, it certainly seems that Thomas Tusser knew what he was talking about.