Watching the radar has been frustating here as well. Most storms have been cold fronts dropping down from Canada. They approach us then skid straight east, staying north of me only to grow back south after they’re past.

Eastern WI is doing fine, Western MN is 5 inches above normal in rain. I’m stuck in the middle.

I try to water as little as possible but in mid June I gave in and started a regular schedule. I starting to wonder if I need to shift my plant palette to more dry land species.

Kathy: Yes, we did get some rain Sunday night but got missed, again on Monday. Frustrating when you know surrounding areas are under watches and warnings. I don’t believe it is enough to fully saturate the soil for the trees but the lawn mowed meadow, as if I cared about turf, doesn’t look as peaked. The creek beds are still rocky gullys, leaving the tiny puddles of isolated baby fish without a way to better water.

It is interesting how topography impacts local weather. The Mohawk Valley to the north of us attracts storms to it and draws them over to Saratoga County. The Catskills to our southeast are the other attractant, explaining why Greene county on its north flank and Dutchess county across the Hudson River are well known for their ample rainfall. This leaves us inbetween, watching storms trundling by but no water.

I have begun to worry about the drought here. The farmers have been joking that we’ve had all the rain we’re going to get this year. (Farmer humor, I guess.) I am also worried about forest fires now, as we’re surrounded by woods that are dry timber.

I would like nothing more than to be woken up at night with the sound of rain. I might just cry.

–Robin (Bumblebee)

Great shot of the rainbow. I haven’t seen one here in quite a while. Also, that flower bed is luscious! I love green! There are so many variations of green it is astounding.