Wet pelargonium in the garden in summer 2012 – more plant pictures later in this post…
As anyone living in the UK will tell you, it has been one awful summer – cold for the time of year and wet, wet, wet.
Although March and May were dry, June and July have been so bad that on more than one occasion we have had a month’s worth of rain dumped on us in a single day (according to the weather people’s averages).
The reason for all this is the polar jetstream, a narrow band of fast-flowing air in the upper atmosphere (six miles up). This twitching skein wanders north and south and, in the case of the UK, if it rests to the south the cold, damp polar air settles over us and if it moves to the north, as it does in most summers, we feel the warmer, drier air from the tropics.
The jetstream still to the south of Britain on July 18, 2012 – we need that red and yellow streak of high winds to move north – click on the picture to go to the latest jetstream forecast…
The Wikipedia entry for the jetstream is rather America-centric, but I have been watching this wonderful animated 16-day forecast for the jetstream over Britain and willing it to move north.
Now at last it looks like it might. In my view the first sign was a huge bright rainbow over Cardiff at sundown on Saturday, the eve of St Swithin’s Day. Although it’s a natural phenomenon, a good rainbow always makes my jaw drop in awe (and makes me run for my camera).
Part of a wonderful rainbow over Cardiff at sundown on July 14, 2012…
The weather on St Swithin’s Day is supposed to predict the next 40 days. Here we had only a tiny amount of rain, so I am going to count that as a good omen of better days to come.
A female blackbird (Turdus merula) basking in a rare moment of sunshine…
But meanwhile here is how the garden has been faring in all this wet weather. There have been winners and losers.
The Hydrangeas have never looked so lush…
A close-up of the Hydrangea – with a snail trying to hide…
And here’s another snail on a Heuchera – I think it’s a Cepaea nemoralis or brown-lipped snail (but without the brown lip) – sorry I couldn’t catch its tail in this picture…
My new little Euphorbia really doesn’t like the heavy rain…
The Tiarella is a real little trouper, but it has seen better days…
The Tiarella in better days…
This starry Campanula poscharskyana flourished in the wet June
The Campanula poscharskyana on a wet day – and now its first flush has withered and I will need to cut it back to make it come again, I guess…
Pelargonium Lara Starshine on a dry day – the leaves are lemon scented…
Pelargonium Lara Starshine on a wet day…
Pelargonium Lara Starshine on a VERY wet day…
A pelargonium called Kate on a rare sunny day…
Pelargonium Kate after weeks of rain…
Hebe after rain…
A wet Heuchera called Root Beer…
Wet Hosta leaves…
Raindrops on sticky goose-grass or cleavers (Galium aparine) – mustn’t call it a weed, although I do usually end up pulling it out…
As I write this on July 18, it’s pouring with rain again. But surely this can’t go on for ever?
The Squirrelbasket 
Well Pat, at least all the flowers and plants look BLOOMING lovely,pardon the pun despite all the rain.Not like here in Crete plants trees and flowers all shriveling in the intense heat…..100deg in the shade. Lovely pictures as always. Thanks for sharing.
If only we could have all things in moderation, especially weather 🙂
I love your wet and dry photos – this summer really has been a wash-out – my garden is literally battered and flat – I just feel like cutting everything right back down to the ground and ignoring the garden for the rest of the year.
Thanks, Elaine. I always feel a bit like that in summer, when things get so overgrown…
Hopefully your battered bits will recover when we have a bit of sun 🙂
That top photo is too beautiful. It hurts when I look at it.
Thanks Esther, yes, I was quite pleased with those huge drops of rain…
Best wishes 🙂
I love visiting your garden..and here we need the rain in the states and you have too much. I fear we have messed with the planet and it is getting us back with this abnormal weather…Michelle
I’m not sure if there is such a thing as “normal” weather… But I agree we are messing up the planet.
Here the rain has now stopped and we have had a few days of sweltering, bright sunshine and cloudless skies – and now we are complaining we are feeling too hot! I guess we had no time to acclimatise this year.
Best wishes 🙂
Gorgeous flowers, raindrops just give things an extra sparkle don’t they? I’m a huge fan of rainbows too, we are lucky, Wales is definitely Rainbow Country.
Indeed it is, and being an annoying Pollyanna myself, I always say: “If you didn’t have rain, you wouldn’t have rainbows…”
Keep on sparkling 🙂
We got too much rain and washed away parts of town, Its a big disaster. Your photos are beautiful. I am so glad you found my blog so I could find you. 🙂 Judy in Minnesota
Thank you Judy. I’m glad I’ve found your lovely blog, too.
Sorry about your flooding. There seem to be more weather disasters than ever before this year…
Best wishes for the future 🙂