There was some much needed rain last night. With the rain, came a light show that kept me entertained while getting drenched when I had to pump water into the rain barrels. The barrels have been empty for about a week so the downpour was welcomed. The garden didn't look droopy this morning and there was water standing on the driveway.

I hadn't been to the Biodiversity trail in a while so decided to check out the swan family. The foliage on the underbrush and the tall grasses were a brilliant green. That moisture from last night's storm rejuvenated all the plant life, not just my garden.

As I walked through the woods, admiring all the wildflowers in bloom and the bees buzzing from blossom to blossom, I scared up a hare. It hopped toward a well worn trail under the low lying branches.

The swans were in the pond. The young ones are getting quite big and their grey color is beginning to lighten. It's good to see that all four of them have survived. Papa swan did a good job of defending the nest.

As I trudged up the hill toward the bench that overlooks the pond, I saw the back half of a good sized garter snake slither into the tall grass. This is the second time that I saw that snake. I'll have to make a mental note and remind myself to watch for it next time before it disappears from the trail.
Tonight the pond was calm and quiet. The swans entertained me for a half hour and the bird calls provided choir songs on my way back to the parking lot. 

It's a beautiful night and there's no rain in the forecast so I think it will be a bonfire night.

Happy trails!