Rain Sunday

Afternoon lull

After the sunny sparkle of Nikki de Saint Phalle’s Escondido sculpture garden (and another fantastic sight that will be Friday’s post), Sunday was rainy and cold. Windy, too … and, well, perfect. I think the Rancho looks it’s absolute best under a cloudy sky and wet from a recent downpour. Looking up on the back slope, at the clouds looming moodily over the Evergreen Cemetary, I don’t think the agaves, cassias and other plants have ever looked so gorgeous …

Flip side

Around front, my prized aloe ferox has sent up its annual flower stalk, and I get to indulge my love for all things rust-colored. On the walk, a potted ocotillo-lookalike twists and turns in a spiky dance. Soon, as in the past, it will sprout uncountable tiny green leaves between each sharp thorn and look a bit less dangerous …

Rain makes everything look cleaner, more in focus … I want more.