Another overnight deluge, hammering the roof, the windows in the intensity of its watery sweep across our landscape. Morning rain as well, more desultory, less emphatic, but still very wet. Finally, a sky canvass that promised an end to the rain, enabling us to embark on our regular ravine walk. The ravine, needless to emphasize, was about as sodden as it could be. The clay that comprises the 'soil' of the ravine is not very good at absorbing inordinate amounts of rain. The creek is, however, and it rushed muddy sweeps and eddies down its length, cascading over logs and waterfalling loudly, spilling over accumulated creek detritus.

Unlike last week's extreme heat, this day was cool, and windy. We set out with our two little dogs, and wearing rainjackets, just in case. Just in case didn't eventuate, but splinters of sun did, illuminating discrete areas of the trail, through the rain-soaked trees. Wind did bring down droplets unceasingly upon us, but that was just fine.

Everything was etched in bright elemental colours, the atmosphere itself completely drenched, as much as the flora. Cowvetch that I so painstakingly pluck from our gardens, grows here with a true sense of entitlement. Rampant, over every other growing thing, its ladder-like leafy vine, an echo of its purple flowers tracing a like pattern.

The hawkweed, fleabane, daisies, bedding grasses have become brighter than ever, moistened by the unrelenting rain, encouraged to exhibit themselves with ever greater insouciance, trailing along the edges of the trail. And their sweet fragrance is enhanced, enveloping us as we slowly proceed.

The pine needles that festoon the trail and the forest floor have been transformed in brightness of colour to a startling orange. Suffocating vines with tiny green heart-shaped leaves roil and thrust themselves over all the undergrowth, reminiscent of the Japan-originated kudzu that strangles shrubs and trees on highways all over the South-Eastern United States. Every eradication program that has been initiated has been in vain; nothing appears capable of forestalling the advance of kudzu. Itself a beautiful plant with large dark green glossy leaves. Edible as well, in Japan.

Meadow rue growing in two separate clumps beside one of the creek's tributaries has begun to bloom, sending out its delicate white clusters of tiny flowerets. False Solomon's Seal has started its green berries on the way to becoming red. Before we know it, we'll be able to pick red, ripe thimbleberries from the clumps now flowering their bright pink shade of beauty. A large young, curious and friendly Rottweiler tumbles happily toward us. A teen-aged boy on a cellphone following soon afterward.