The wonders of rain

It was lovely to return to Glenarn from a week on the Mull of Kintyre to find there had been over 2 inches of rain and the burn was gurgling again. In midsummer everything is putting on new growth and this can be easily damaged and contorted by drought. This year the new leaves look good and buds for next spring are already forming.

There's a wonderful freshness and colour to the growth, important when the main season of flowering is over with some leaves initially silver, gold or blue- or covered with furry indumentum on top and below.