I am thrilled that a storm is upon us. No doubt, this should break our drought and saturate soils (at least temporarily) dried by weeks of summer heat. The gardener must be grateful for whatever is provided, but I am overjoyed.

I watch the pounding rain from my perch in the sunroom, several feet above the garden, an ideal refuge from the heat of the day or the few scattered storms that have graced the garden in this dry summer. At the moment, the abundant beasts that fly through this area beyond the windows have also settled into their sheltered space in one of the garden’s many dozens of trees or shrubs.

Soon, the storm will pass, and all will return, prowling the skies for a meal or in search of a bloom to take their fill of nectar. With this rain, browsing could be delayed for days for bees, wasps, and hoverflies that are most active while the sun shines. Butterflies are likely to return to feast on Joe Pye weeds if the storm moves on during daylight hours, and dragonflies will remain until the last tiny beast flying over the koi pond retires for the day.

Frogs will leap into the stream or ponds as I stroll the stone paths, though occasionally, one remains still on a damp, moss covered stone. A particularly large blue-tailed skink is now seen regularly, though it skittishly darts into crevices in the rockery. Smaller ones are seen more infrequently.

We welcome all comers to the garden, though practicality dictates that we must discourage deer and snarl at destructive rabbits. (This approach has worked in the short term with much less rabbit related damage. I have my doubts about its long-term success.) With this rain, the garden will perk up. I hope that we settle into a more regular schedule of afternoon storms so that the ponds can fill and dry weather fissures in the clay soil will expand and close. Regardless, our flying friends will continue to glide and dart across the garden.