245: Stormy weather

Stormy weather. Taken yesterday evening when the first round of storms rolled in.

We had some wicked storms move through last night.  Fortunately for us, the energy seemed to have fizzled out a little before they got here.  Places west and north of us experienced 70mph winds, and at least one tornado.  We did have some pretty spectacular lightning.  Someday I should learn how to photograph it.

Another view of the darkening sky.

According to one of the local weather prognosticators, we have had rain for 41 out of the last 55 days.  The important thing to remember, though, is that it doesn’t always rain all the time.  Today, for instance, started cloudy, became sunny, and then clouded up again.  More strong storms are expected this afternoon and evening.  Spring is really roaring this year.

The photos above look almost surreal, as if I Photoshopped in the sky or the scenery.  The contrast between the dark sky and the greenery was amazing.  I don’t think the camera captured just how dark the sky really was at the time.

The boat needs bailed. And cleaned.

I’m not sure we are ever going to dry out.  There was so much rain last night that a new stream has formed out in one of the meadows.  I couldn’t believe how fast and how much water was flowing through it, making its way to the pond.  The pond doesn’t need any more water, either.

Today's view of the pond

The frogs and turtles don’t seem to mind all the water.  The dragonflies appear to be pretty happy too, although it’s difficult to tell with the dragonflies.  Their facial expressions never change.

A green dragonfly

The creek is once again covering the forest floor so trips into the woods are not advised at this time.  I am surprised some of the trees haven’t tumbled over due to the saturation.  Two of the trees on the dam at the back of the pond look like they are almost ready to do just that.

Watery woods

In years past, throughout the spring and summer, we go through different color periods.  We start with the greening.  Then the purple flowers bloom.  From there we move to yellow, white, and then orange.  But this year has been, so far, all about the color green.

Walking through the timothy grass meadow towards the cattails

The greens dominate the landscape.  There are yellow and purple and pink flowers blooming here and there, but they are barely noticeable in all that green.

My outdoor adventure companion, sitting in a willow tree

Absolute green is the most restful color, lacking any undertone of joy, grief, or passion.  On exhausted men this restfulness has a beneficial effect, but after a time it becomes tedious.

~ Wassily Kandinsky

Rowboat at the back of the pond. Processed in Picnik using Heat Map 2.0 (thermal) to change the greens.

Sometimes I imagine colors as if they were living ideas, being of pure reason with which to communicate.  Nature is not on the surface, it is deep down.

~ Paul Cézanne

Garden notes:  Picked the last of the asparagus harvest today.  It’s time to let the spears fern out.  There were a few asparagus beetles out there.  I took care of ’em.  Lettuces and chard are finally coming up.  Yay!

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