"But by early June the southwest monsoon breaks and there are three months of wind and water with short spells of sharp, glittering sunshine that thrilled children snatch to play with. The countryside turns an immodest green. Boundaries blue as tapioca fences take root and bloom. Brick walls turn moss green. Pepper vines snake up electric poles. Wild creepers burst through laterite banks and spill across flooded roads..."

--Arundhati Roy, The God of Small Things

A huge storm last night with enough thunder to keep the dog up all night. Getting up this morning, more reminders of our low water table, with areas all around the yard flooded, under water. Luckily we didn't put the vegetable seeds in yet. We have just finished clearing two fairly large new areas under some large trees. We hung a hammock there last year, it's nice and shady, and yesterday I transferred a bunch of hostas to under the trees. When we moved here there was a long border of hostas planted in full sun, that by mid-summer look burned and half dead. I have slowly moved them to areas they will be happier, shady areas, and have two large clumps left to move. I don't absolutely love hostas, but they are sure handy to fill in shady open areas, spread quickly, and you can practically throw them on the ground and they will take off.

With the rain still coming down, no gardening outside today -- will tend to the seeds my 4 year old and I planted inside a few weeks ago. He picked them out according to the picture on the packet, most of them annuals. I also planted some lupine, zinnias, pastel daisies, black eyed Susan vine. Plants do really well on the east facing radiator in our bedroom, we have great light, but I've noticed the ones in the south facing window look even better.

A friend came by yesterday and asked for a "tour" of the garden, and as we walked around, there is evidence of a lot, but I realize I have a much clearer view of what different areas will look like, at least in my mind. It might take another 10 years to get things where I want them; have been thinking of doing some paintings to show what the areas already look like IN MY HEAD.

The photos here are of one of these newly cleared areas, a blank canvas.