Rain! Finally fell to the ground this week soaking parched lawns and gardens, spring gardens so thirsty without intervention form sprinkler or mother nature, many of our new plants would have suffered a slow death.

Main stream media was also picking up on the dry spring thus far. I fielded many news media requests for "how does this affect the gardener". My garden literally loved mother nature right back. My home garden again looks lush and spring green. Nothing could have been better than an all day soaking rain. I even had a hummingbird stop by some honeysuckle Sunday afternoon.

Yes all is good in my world and my piece of backyard heaven. As I take a breath from the spring rush of fever pitched uncontrollable planting of flowers and vegetables, my sights and garden dreams turn to perennials. It seems I can always squeeze another perennial or two into my garden.

The welcoming rain gives me new vigor to plant...peonies and lilies are on my to do list. To combat summer heat I'm going to plant with extra home made compost and mulch extra heavy when I plant; in addition I'm going to re-mulch all my flower beds with an extra two inches of mulch. This I find is the best prevention for heat stress on new plantings.

Keep an eye out for pesky weeds too. They also will be energized by rain and ready to flourish and bloom.

This may all seem like work, but remember the well tendered garden is just like a good bottle of wine...it keeps getting better with age. For me a good bottle of Aussie Shiraz, a summer rain, backyard and family! You little Beauty!