The Southwest Monsoon

Hazel's Hollyhocks are diggin' their new home.

I've got soggy potato chips. You know how they get all soft and squishy in humid parts of the country? The air is normally too dry for that to happen out here.

Oh, and skeeters, too. Skeeters! In a high plains desert! 

Laura Phlox, purchased in honor of my daughter's lovely name.

It's been raining, every evening. Not a little drizzle. We're talkin' thunder, lightning, hail, torrents, you name it, we're getting it. And while I know that's a good thing it is absolutely messing with the bone dry status quo. We get most of our moisture in the form of snow in winter so when it rains we hardly know what to do with ourselves.

Exceptionally waterwise Yarrow with even more waterwise wild Asters.

Plus that brings humidity. Humidity!

I mean, let's be clear, here, soggy potato chips are a tragedy in and of itself.  But being all drippy wet when you're out working in the garden? Humidity was the reason I left Minnesota in the first place. That and the skeeters.

Big smiles, everyone, more rain is forecast for today.

My flowers, however, are jumping for joy.

Sometimes I chuckle at the concept of waterwise flowers. Sure, these gals can survive just fine with minimal water but it's kind of like us and the 5 star vs. 2 star hotel dilemma. Would you prefer pampering or roughing it?

Rebel Daisy infiltrating the Lavender and Coreopsis.

* The Southwest Monsoon is a real, true weather pattern that sends rumbling storms across our parched landscape, saturating the earth and waking up all kinds of pretty wildflowers. It's been AWOL for the past few summers but things are greening up quite nicely with these plentiful rains.

These wild storms tend to blow off all their steam at higher elevations, before they reach the meadow where I live.

Tip: Water sticks to water. In the desert SW, when things have been exceptionally dry, the first rain runs right off the top of our hard-packed soils, creating scary flash floods. In the dry season, the best time to water your garden is right before it rains...

PS: Dear Midwesterners ~ Please send mosquito repellent. The sooner, the better.