Rainy day maples

We're still at least half a foot below normal in terms of precipitation for the year so far, but maybe the drought, which now seems to be our annual summer lot, won't be quite so severe. We've now been blessed now with more than an inch of rain, and there may be more in the forecast. Still, I needed to put some mileage on my legs, so, intermittent downpours or not, I hoped for a break, grabbed my little Fuji waterproof camera, and headed up to the Bell Cedar Swamp trail. Not surprisingly, I spotted almost nothing in the fauna department—any animal with any sense was in hiding—but there were plenty of rain-splashed flowers and leaves to enjoy and photograph. This cluster of maple foliage on the road was my favorite, and it was not my only discovery. On the sodden trail I learned, to my annoyance, that my waterproof boots were not up to their advertising. Time to give them a helping hand.