There is nothing like the smell of damp leaves and wet earth. With
the dryness we've experienced lately, the massive amount of much
needed rains fell today releasing Mom Earth's musky earthy fragrances.
Ummmmm, damp leaves, moist soil, a slight mushroomy smell. The
peepers and frogs that are still hanging on because they don't know
any better with this Indian Summer we've had this week are singing
their little gills out. I almost heard the waning perennials gasping
with relief. I caught several buckets of gutter overflow when I
dicovered the deluge caused by too many oak leaves, pawlonia leaves
and pine needles was making a large waterfall. The tropical plants on
the front porch was grateful for the fresh rain. Eventually the rains
stopped several hours later, the soil everywhere visibly moist, and
despite the raised beds my flowers and perennials reside in, my hands
came up muddy when I patted the soil around the roots of my newly
aquired Mexican Sage I got from Reba from down the street. It cost me
dearly, but I've wanted a piece of it now for seven years. It's
acclimated to our zone and for safety sake I will mulch it with leaves
to ensure it's survival this winter. It's also in a prime location in
my southern facing bed. I have Eye of the Tiger green tongues poking
up out of their pot way too soon because of the warmth we've had, I
guess this weekend's cold front will slow them down and hopefully they
won't force and bloom and be lost. These are the replacements. I
still have bags of bulbs to plant and I need to think of their
locations carefully. Work has begun for me and my next day off will
not be until Monday, but in between I will have some moments to do
some outside work. I look forward to using Free Agent. Thanks for
all your help (I discovered the lost post concerning the website to
download it in September's posting thru X-news of all things)
madgardener