Too many times, I’ve cursed as massive storms split as they travel over the Appalachian Mountains. Heavy rains pass just to the north and south of the garden, occasionally with a teasing drop or two falling to add to the frustration. Be patient, I mutter between foul grumbles. Surely, the next storm will come our way.

And often enough, it does. This week, the storm trough pointed directly over the garden. As the rain poured, I watched the radar as the storm fed from several states to our south until a few inches had fallen. Brief overnight storms followed, and a small but mighty storm lingered this morning to drop another inch. So, I am now satisfied and hope for a few days without rain to give our nearby mountain trails a chance to dry out. I need a hike to break the monotony of weeding.

Several paths through the rear garden are obstructed by sodden flowers of Mountain mints and Joe Pye Weeds. The swallowtails are not deterred, returning after a brief period of drying, though several Joe Pye now arch to dip their heads into the koi pond (below).

Of course, the inches of rain are beneficial to the garden, but it also encourages Japanese stilt grass and Wavyleaf basketgrass that have invaded the forest’s edge and are sneaking into the borders of the garden. As I soon turn a year older and inevitably lazier, this invasion will be a challenge.