The dry goes on

Thou hast nor youth nor age
But as it were an after dinner sleep
Dreaming of both.
T.S. Eliot

 On Monday night a passing shower dropped just 1/100 of an inch of rain at SeaTac Airport, but that was enough to end Seattle's 48 day dry spell, just short of the record. Hardly enough rain to even wet down the dust, much less water the parched grass.  It seems ironic because we went back into another sunny stretch of weather, although an 80 in September never feels as toasty as an 80 in July.  The mornings are dark, chilly and damp until the sun comes up.  It's the most glorious September weather really, but poignant with a touch of fall. Not to mention all the garden clean-up work looming ahead.

The first real rain will turn these begonias to mush, but for a little longer the hanging baskets, roses and dahlias are perfection.  I've started putting my Hori Hori knife to work clearing out beds, and clumps of brown Shasta daisies and ugly iris foliage are the first to go. I won't be done for many weeks, but the goal is a full yard waste bin on the curb every Monday.