Creeks, waterfalls, flooding, and Bonnie

Due to the almost 3 inches of rain we received earlier in the week plus the rain we had the week before, our creek in the secret garden is flowing again. Even our little waterfall has water in it! These photos were taken on Tuesday and Wednesday, and the water has diminished to a smaller flow now, but it was pretty while it lasted. We are in the midst of the worst drought in history for our area in the south, and even with the minor flooding, all the rain we have received lately is a blessing. The lake has risen almost seven ft. so far this week!

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Creek in the secret garden

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The water that flows around and through the secret garden is a natural creek and runoff area from the mountains above us, and it has been dried up completely for about two years. We built the creek bed and placed the stones down a gentle slope when we were clearing out the secret garden last summer, and I’m so happy now to see that it actually did create a small waterfall! I’m hoping that someday when our rainfall reaches normal levels again, the creek (and the waterfall) will return and stay.

One of the stone bridges, and creek in the secret garden

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Water flowing in the small creek bed

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Although the lake is still rising, the runoff from the mountains has receded today, and the creeks are much smaller now. (The only drawback to the rain is the mosquitos. There were thousands of them today!) The daffodils and yellowbell bushes are blooming, the tulips will soon be in bloom, and although the calendar says it is still 13 days away, it definitely looks and feels like spring today! Even my tigerlilies have sprouted and are 6 inches tall already.

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Bonnie watching the waterfall

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I know that cats aren’t supposed to like water, but Bonnie does. After the storms were over, she ventured out and spent allll day on Wednesday in the secret garden, playing in and even walking in the water. She seems fascinated by it, and walked alongside the creek and laid in the sun nearby for hours, just watching the water or dipping her paws into it. The other two cats were always nearby, but they don’t seem to be as enchanted with the water as Bonnie is.

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Our weather today is gray and misty and around 60 degrees. The forecast says it is supposed to turn much cooler over the next day or two, with more rain and drizzle and maybe even snow flurries over the weekend. I hope it doesn’t turn very cold now, I’m sick of winter and I’m so ready for warm weather and more spring rain, and I’m anxious to get out and start clearing out the flower beds and cleaning out the leaves and other flood debris from the creek bed in the secret garden.

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Photos from earlier this week

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