after the rain today

It's always fun to walk around the garden in the rain, or after, to see how it has refreshed the plants, soaked the ground and provided drops of water for birds and insects to drink.

I observed the honey bee (above photo) getting nectar from the wet lavatera flower. At first I thought it might need help because it looked like it was stuck or struggling. But then it did fly away, slowly at first, laden with wet pollen (the large yellow blob on its abdomen).

Then I heard this Anna hummingbird singing high up in the same shrub. This is one of their favorite places to hang out, too. These birds are out and about all day, even in the rain, unless it is really storming.

And the wood chips got a good soaking, too. This is why I always make sure to spread wood chips around the garden, at least one inch high, late September or early October. That way they can protect the soil and help hold in moisture when the winter rains come. And then they gradually break down, becoming part of the soil.

See how the nasturtiums are sprouting again. I'm sure this area will be a sea of nasturtium plants within a month, covering the wood chips.

In the backyard, the cape honeysuckle blossoms also look very refreshed. They provide some bright patches of color on this otherwise gray and wet weekend.