Our drought has left the desert dry, shriveled and dormant, and windy days like today swirl vast quantities of dust into the parched air. I keep hoping that tomorrow the rain will come, but each day just brings more empty sunlight. While the wild plants suffer and endure the drought, well-watered cultivated plants are thriving in our mild, sunny February weather.

Ornamental cabbages are looking particularly lovely right now. This colorful cabbage had just been watered, and a huge droplet of water rested for a moment on its water-repelling leaves before sliding down into the moist garden soil.

I would love to see plants and flowers wet with actual rain, but for now there are only garden plants wet from the sprinkler or hose, such as this orange-flowered Viola (Viola species).

The roadside flowers, too wet for the bee,
Expend their bloom in vain.
Come over the hills and far with me,
And be my love in the rain.

(Excerpt from Robert Frost's A Line-storm Song)