It's Raining - a Lush Subtropical Garden

Cooling summer rain after some extremely hot days - like heaven on earth! The birds have been chirping all day, and the plants have been washed clean after showers from above.
Tuesday went to a high of 35°C, which doesn't sound too high, but with a high humidity factor that we cannot escape in a subtropical climate, the real feel was more in the mid-40s.
It was hot!

The pool looks so inviting on days like that, but I have to wait till the guests go out before taking a dip. That is if I do make it there as the days sometimes run away with me.

I could not resist taking a walk through the garden when the rain was down to a fine drizzle, relishing the cooling fine spray of rain on my face, heavenly! The pace has picked up and it's now raining steadily, hopefully, no damaging rains as often happen this time of the year!

During an exceptionally dry winter, the Staghorn looked like it was dying, its fronds dehydrated and drooping, despite having a good home base on the Pigeonwood tree. It picked up its head after good rains, and is flourishing again! Yes, it's not our rainy season then, but we normally have at least one period of good rains to see the plants through till summer.

Don't we go through periods like this as well? Our souls feel crushed, but something good happens and we pick ourselves up!

I can see why this Bromeliad is called the Flaming Sword. It looks almost artificial, a visitor thought I had painted it, till he felt along the bract which is reaching for the sky. Small flowers will eventually form along the bracts. It flowered last year and lasted quite a long while.
Funny how the plant dies once the bract falls off, by which time new babies have already popped up!
And so the cycle continues. I've had this particular one for many years. Humpty Dumpty must be a good father!

Nurture your children, and they too will flourish!

The Curry leaf tree looks gorgeous and adds delicious flavour to curries. Guess what I'm making for dinner tonight? Nothing like having fresh herbs right outside the kitchen door to add to your cooking!

Another younger Curry Leaf tree coming up near the cottage entrance.

One of our young guests brought the most delicious Custard Apples some time back. We planted a couple of seeds in my herb garden, and they're getting stronger in a sheltered position between the Rosemary and Fennel. Of course, it will have to be transplanted once they get stronger.

The very fine fronds of the Fennel plants also glisten with tiny raindrops.

The pretty and generous Duranta never stops flowering and attracts butterflies as well.

Although Ixora only flowers once a year, they make a stunning show and last for a couple of weeks.

The woody Bougainvillea grows over the pergola going down to the pool. When it flowers it is covered with purple flowers and looks stunning, of course, it's not flowering at the moment.

The one view that I will truly miss when I move one of these days, is that of our green valley that can be seen from the top of our driveway!
We turned what once was a sandy hill, into a lush subtropical garden that's given us much joy.