I looked back, and it was spring

Missing one weekend in spring at Towerwater is like being away for several weeks on end. It is as if the garden explodes into spring. We left two weekends ago with the oak trees still covered in brown leaves. On our return, the trees were covered in new green leaves with the brown leaves mostly discarded on the lawn.

Apple blossoms

There is no sign that the lawn was scarified three weeks ago. The lush green lawn echoes the fresh green oak leaves. The hot spring days of the last two weeks have worked their magic on the garden. There is new growth everywhere.

The last of the winter oak leaves on the new lawn

In the orchard, the trees are covered in tiny fruit with the Santa Rosa plum still in blossom. The apples and pears have joined in the exuberance and have started pushing out their blossoms. 

The lawn three weeks after being scarified

A cold front brought welcome soaking showers on Sunday. That will spur the garden on in growth spurts like no other watering can do. There is a special magic in rainwater. It must be the oxygen in rain water that makes the difference. There is more oxygen in rain water than in tap water. After a good downpour like we had on Sunday, it is as if the plants could clear their lungs. That is why they now look so dramatically refreshed.

With their leaves washed clean, the process of photosynthesis is much more efficient. The light that reaches the plants leaves is no longer filtered by a layer of dust.

A wet orchard

As much as we regretted not enjoying lunch on the lawn, we rejoiced in the welcome rain. By the time we left on Sunday, there was already more than 20mm of rain in the gauge. With restricted water usage from the canal until December, we are very grateful for the unexpected blessing in late September.

There is no better gardener than nature herself.