There were few others besides ourselves willing to take the chance yesterday that they wouldn't be caught in a surprise downpour. Fact is, there were a lot of such surprises falling from yesterday's heavily overcast skies.

I was personally quite happy about all the rain. There's little a garden likes more than spring rain as long as it also from time to time is exposed to sunlight. And we've had more than ample clear sunny days, so the rain was welcome to arrive. I've planted the last of my seeds and bulbs and annual flowers, so bring it on!

And absolutely nothing is so appealing in a forest setting as a wet environment, where, after the rain colours are bright and intense even when the forest itself is dusky. Colours glow, take on other shades and present an aesthetic spectacle to awe any spectator.

Cherry

Having the trails all to ourselves is something we're quite accustomed to. And though it's pleasant enough to come across other people and often with their own companion dogs, it's quiet and peaceful and comforting to tramp through the woods for an hour or so on one's own. Little wonder Jackie and Jillie tend to consider such outings as their very own private preserves. As we did yesterday.

Honeysuckle

It was one of those very warm and muggy days due to the moisture saturating the air. Relieved greatly by the fact that the wind was more than a breeze, emphatically so, and it was gratefully cooling, reducing the heavy, sticky feeling that persists when rain has just fallen and more is imminent.

Dogwood

We were fortunate, deciding to take our changes though the forecast was for more heavy rain and occasional thunderstorms. As it was, only a light rain came down sporadically, barely penetrating the now-dense forest canopy. The serious rain held off until we returned home. We had tied rainjackets about our waists when we set off, and carried a small bundle containing two little raincoats for Jackie and Jillie, and they, as it turned out, didn't need them.

Dogwood

And we were so pleased to discover that Dogwood and Honeysuckle shrubs were in bloom, as well as Hawthorn and black Cherry trees. We came across a lovely drift of foamflower, the sightings pleasing beyond measure. That none of us missed our daily walk in the ravine along the forest trails, and most particularly our rambunctious little Jackie and Jillie, pleased us enormously.

Foamflower