More than one actually. Stormy skies have prevailed this week with thunder, lightning, whipping winds and downpours of rain. Today it merely rained steadily all day but the storm we had a couple of days ago made me feel like I was out at sea. We could hear it coming and watched as dark storm clouds flashed and rumbled over nearby hills. Birds fell silent and I knew I should have grabbed the clean sheets from the line but decided to wait it out. Moments later, the rain arrived and came down with such force that it bounced several inches off the ground which created a splashing blur of any hard surfaces. I worried for the vegetable garden and hoped that the birch twigs would hold up the pea and broad bean plants. The wind gusts lashed the rain against the windows thus adding to the boat feeling. Would the tomato plants survive this? I kept telling my daughter about how much I love storms as we watched and listened from the safety of the house. It was exciting and dramatic. You know it’s summer when you get a storm like that. I expected to lose electricity but luckily no trees came down on power lines this time. I wondered what the chickens were feeling as they sheltered inside their coop with a metal roof! The storm left as quickly as it had arrived and had splashed mud onto the sheets so that is definitely a lesson learned. When the birds stop singing, bring in your sheets. I lost a couple of nasturtium plants that were planted in hanging pallets on the side of the big barn but nothing else. All of the vegetable plants were intact including the flowers. I was sure they would have been pressure washed from their stems. I was going to leave the two nasturtiums where they were on the ground, but decided to bring them in to enjoy in the kitchen window. The next day, a bright orange flower appeared on one of them so I was glad that we didn’t eat them immediately. The wind had ripped the whole plants from their stalks so I didn’t see any hope for their recovery. It was lovely to at least be able to enjoy a single flower while it lasted. The green leaves were beginning to fade by today, but on closer inspection, there were tiny new leaves growing and ROOTS coming from the base of the stalk. This could easily be seen through the glass water jug they were in. I was completely surprised to discover this and had no idea that nasturtiums can be grown from cuttings. I have rooted cuttings before and am currently doing it with Ivy and a favourite house plant of mine but I was so pleased that the nasturtiums could be saved and replanted. I planted them in my special homemade mix of soil and they are sheltering in the back porch window until they can be put back on the blue pallet shelf we made. I smile every time I see them there. There is even a new flower bud on the other one so I think they’re going to make it. A wonder of a plant that is so simple in form with such eagerness for life. Not even a storm can dampen their enthusiasm.