Storm!

Of late, the skies haven't been the bluest...



clouds loomed large----



---and sunsets had become a little less spectacular. And
although the signs of rain were there, all we got was dust,
and more dust! Sometimes, the first mild rain comes as early
as February. Enough for the dust to settle down but since it
took its time coming, it has created drought-like conditions
in many parts of the state. Several times, planes have not
been able to take off or land because of the dust-storms.



But yesterday, the storm came. The kind that's usually accompanied
by rain. It was sudden--the bang, the thud, the swish, the frantic
swaying of trees, everything happened all at once. It must've
lasted for about fifteen minutes followed by a drizzle so light
it left us disappointed...



But it finally rained at night. Enough to wet the rain-starved
soil.Andthe first thing I did in the morning was to get these
shots----




The Common Castor butterfly was on my Ixora, gently flapping its
wings. I waited with all due reverence waiting for this shot.



Droplets of rain on this Oxalis--a recent buy...



...on the green and tender bananas.



Raindrops sit pretty on this caladium leaf.

This year the mango trees were covered in blooms so thick
it made me wonder whether I've ever seen that many blooms
before. There's a saying that if the mango blooms like that,
there's enough rain that year. And it's good for the paddy.
Here's hoping that the saying comes true for our farmers.