Woke up this morning to the sound of rain drops hitting the skylights, nice. Summer rain is very uncommon and July is historically our driest month here in Solano, so any rain is very welcome to our parched gardens. This year I have held off planting much since early spring. The garden gets very little water and any new planting will have to wait until we get rain in the fall.

I have been "capturing" water from my kitchen sink as I am waiting for the water to get hot for various chores. This water goes to hand watering the Butterfly Bush (Buddleja davidii 'Variegata') and the Flowering Maple (Abutilon striatum 'Variegata') both are doing pretty well. Yesterday I realized I was looking at a branch of the Butterfly Bush which had reverted to the all green form. I have read to cut those branches back to the main stem which I did, hope no more appear.

Just heard some thunder so maybe there will be a little more rain today, I can do without the lighting though, that's the last thing we need with our bone dry hills.