Outguessing Mother Nature

The seedlings are well underway in preparation for another dry year. I selected varieties that were drought-tolerant, eschewing those that required moisture aplenty. So what we've had lately has been drizzle, rain, thunderstorms, heavy downpours and fog. It's such fun to garden here in the highly unpredictable Midwest.

True to form, when it rains it pours, as they say. I believe the Grand River heard me making disparaging remarks about its name, and rose up in protest. This shot was taken from the bridge. It's hard to believe we waded across this river last summer. My land is on the right. Big trees floated by and hit the bridge pilings.
The rain was so heavy that the early garden was washed out in places. The discouraging part is we could still get a drought later on this summer.

This has been one of the chilliest Aprils in years, more like March or late February. Although the rain has allowed me to rest my twisted knee, enough is enough.

The river has backed up at the corner of Ravine and Vine, on out over what was the path to the river.

This is the approach to Fishing Beach, which is about ten feet underwater. The bridge is the black bar in the distance. All this is quite normal for springtime here. It's just that we were expecting something a little drier after last summer. We didn't have our hearts set on it, but we were braced for it.

Who knows when it will be dry enough to plant the gaillardias and gazanias. They may not appreciate quite so much moisture, when they specifically  have requested drier conditions. This is my first year for those perennials, so if it does turn out to be another hot, dry summer, they will really be appreciated. Despite frosty mornings, they are having spa treatments by spending sunny afternoons out on the porches, hardening off. Quantities of time and effort are devoted to making sure they have shelter from high winds, protection from sunburn and the right amount of moisture.  Snow is still in the forecast, which is unbelievable.

This may have been a better year to try out some wetlands shrubs.