The joys of spring made even better by the rain

Nature noticing after long awaited rain

Hello, I’m Rachel. I write about nature and creativity to encourage connection and wellbeing. This is one of my regular posts about noticing nature and finding connection. To read more - go to my homepage and click the noticing nature tab.

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Yet again, it’s been weeks since I last wrote here properly. I’ve scribbled so many notes and composed many more in my head. I’ve felt guilty at not committing them to the (web) page, at not sharing it with you, or preserving my memories and thoughts on how this beautiful season has affected me more than ever. In a way maybe not experienced since that strange sunshine-filled spring of the 2020 lockdown.

As I wrote about in my last post, it’s been a hard few months, and I’m still struggling with both symptoms and overwhelm. But spring has carried on regardless, nudging me to get outside and breathe it in, to sit with all its sensory joys, to take part in Mother Nature’s biggest creative endeavour. Even as I sit here typing, my eye catches the flutter of a butterfly visiting my front garden.

So, to get over this writing barrier, I’ve just got to write. And, what I’m going to share might be a bit left field. It’s not about the joys of the blue skies, warm days…

Here on the south coast of the UK, it had been six weeks and barely a drop of rain. Bath and dish water was being saved to keep the garden going, and the car was coated in a thick layer of dust. Paths normally not dry until high summer were hard and dry.

But then, we finally woke to rain, actually the sound of tyres swooshing on wet roads. I hadn’t believed the forecast, but now I felt relief. I went down to check how much had fallen and whether it had refreshed the pots of seedlings (it had).

We (Bridget dog and I) drove up the hill into a gentle layer of mist. A grey world strangely welcome after weeks of bright light.

But on stepping away from the road into the orchard, it was my nose that found the joy first. Oh I wish the internet had smell-o-vision! But this wasn’t just petrichor (the scent released by the soil after rain), this was the scents of spring turned up by 100%. This was the blossom, the comfrey, the fresh new leaves - such a sweet yet soft aroma released and enhanced by the rain. I had to stick my nose in every bloom we passed to top it up.

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And that wasn’t the only benefit of the rain. The already beautiful blooms were bejewelled with glistening raindrops, reflecting the world around them and adding texture to their silky petals.

On newly emerged leaves, the droplets magnified the intricate veins.

And then, as I moved closer to photograph one branch, I found a different decoration - a tiny snail searching for breakfast. Another reminder to slow down and notice the tiny wonders everywhere.

There’s magic in the moments

As we drove the five minutes home, the sun had burnt off the mist, and we were back to the clear blue skies and sunshine. But, the rain had had her moment and reminded me that there is magic and beauty to be found in all weathers.

Do you enjoy being out in the rain, or those moments after the rain has left? Am I the only one that finds days of the same weather boring, even if sunshine?

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Until next time,