Replenishing Rain by Nannette Croce

Late spring and early summer in southeastern Pennsylvania brought perfect outdoor weather. It seemed each day dawned either cloudless or with only wisps of cotton floating across a deep blue sky. We enjoyed light breezes, mild temperatures, and little of the humidity so common in our region. But, enjoyable and conducive to outdoor chores as it was, by late June my garden was evincing the distress of weeks without rain.

I watered it every couple of days, but as our water comes from a well in an area where recent over building has lowered the water table, I'm always reluctant to spend too much water on gardening in times of drought, and drought was beginning to look like what we faced. Then, a few days ago, the weather suddenly changed. The skies didn't brighten in the mornings or at any time throughout the day, and a drizzle fell almost steadily from morning to night. The bad luck was it dampened a rare three-day July 4th weekend, and rained out the two parties we were invited to, but I didn't really mind.My garden immediately perked up. The leaves greener,the flowers more colorful.

It's easy to take water for granted. Throughout my lifetime short periods of drought have always been followed by overflowing reservoirs. The Pueblo Indians of the Southwest United States knew better. Rain is such an important part of their culture that rain designs often decorate their pottery. Now water all over the country and all over the world is becoming a precious commodity. One more victim of global warming.

These days I'm always grateful for a good, replenishing rain, even when it comes at an inconvenient time.