I FORGOT ABOUT OREGON RAIN

 

Spring rains in Oregon are different.   You KNOW when it's raining in Florida — its noisy and the sky  darkens dramatically.  Here at home in Oregon the sky may still be light and, from inside, you might not even hear or see the rain.  

So you might step outside and get halfway down the block before you realize that the gentle sprinkle  has completely soaked through your light jacket and, worse,  your camera is in danger of drowning.

 

 

Another difference:  That dramatic rain in Florida will be over and done in a shortish  time (at least during the part of the year when we're there) and the sun will come out.  But — as you walk  through the "Oregon Mist" you remember, from all the years you lived here,  that the rain here can last for hours and hours.  Maybe days.   And you need the walk, so you go on.                                       

 

 

And you remember that it's the rain that makes everything green and beautiful.  

 

 

There's a unique and wonderful special Spring Rain aroma that I'd almost forgotten about.   

 

I'd noticed the interesting blue flowering shrub above and the  perfect Bleeding Heart plant below when I took quick evening walks earlier in the week — without a camera.  (And when it wasn't raining — as it was on Saturday morning when I'd planned a long "photo-hunt" walk.)   Reminder to self:   take advantage of sunny hours whenever they arrive.

 

 

I  played with various zoom positions  focusing on this beautiful Bleeding Heart.  It's always been one of my favorite flowers.  It took a while because I was trying to shelter the camera and not leave it out for too long at a time.    I wondered if the person in the house would look out and wonder about the masked person standing in the rain staring at his/her home.  But nobody seemed to be there.   ….   well, no human anyway.  Because all of a sudden, I noticed a little motion :  

 

 

 A Hummingbird makes everything worthwhile!  

 

 

Flowering Plum Trees are out, but the bloom won't last much longer.   As soon as it rains, the ground all around the trees  is carpeted with the fallen blossoms.

It really was a great walk, in spite of the misty day.  My camera survived (although my paper CV mask was a little worse for wear).   I got some decent pictures — and I remembered that rainy days are definitely not all bad!     

 

It's good to be home!

 

(Admittedly though, interesting skies  were a little scarce last week.  The above picture with a glimpse of blue is from our first day back — two weeks ago now — and was taken at our daughter and son-in-law's.  )

#

THIS POST is linked to the following sharing opportunities:  Thank you to all of the hosts.

 

MOSAIC MONDAY; NATURE NOTES;  ALL SEASONS;  THROUGH MY LENS;    OUR WORLD ON TUESDAY;    SAY CHEESE;  MY CORNER OF THE WORLD;  WILD BIRD Wednesday;  THANKFUL THURSDAY;  SKYWATCH FRIDAY;  FRIDAY  BLISS;    SATURDAY CRITTERS;  and RATHER B' BIRDING