After Rain

We had quite a rain squall a bit ago. Our gaudy azalea is blooming madly, as is the lilac (somewhat less madly), and to my surprise some irises as well. Seems early for irises, but who knows?

The azalea was at the house when we bought it 41 years ago - though nowhere near as large as it is now. For some reason I moved it from a shady spot near the house out into the full sun at the corner of the vegetable garden we established that spring and it has been happy as a clam there ever since. The deer have, mysteriously, never even nibbled on it.