The Wrath of Spring

Yesterday was one of those spring days that made you want to dance and sing, bask in the sunshine, run to the nearest nursery and buy tons of plants.

I knew it is supposed to be rainy and in the forties the rest of this week.  Well, maybe not all week. But I had to soak up that sunshine while it existed.  In the Southern Tier, the sunshine plays a shy, hide and seek game with us while it gives its bright favors to other parts of the country.

Spouse, seeing that Spring Madness had hit, walked around the yard with me as I took pictures of some of my flowers.  But the foot was put down about the nursery, that would have to wait for today.

So I contented myself with taking some pictures of flowers, and dreamed of nursery shopping.

Today, after our exercise walk on the Vestal Rail Trail, we headed for Tioga Gardens.  I love their tropical conservatory.  It is loaded with tropical plants (and open all year), and visiting with their rehab tropical birds is always a treat.  I can spend a lot of time there, and I always buy something (even if it's just an African Violet), so I restrict myself to visiting twice or three times a year.

This time I wanted to pick up some pansies and look at their started plants for after frost.

But this wasn't going to be the typical visit, as we learned very quickly.

As we slowed to make our turn in the parking lot, it was obvious that they had been flooded.

Several days of heavy rains caused our rivers to exit their banks earlier in the week.  It wasn't as extensive as our 2006 flood (That caused part of my neighborhood to be evacuated and caused lots of heartache overall.  We didn't have much damage but I know people in other areas who lost their homes and belongings.). But this flood brought to certain select areas something the Flood of 2006 hadn't as much-mud.   And Tioga Gardens was in one of the unfortunate areas.

Part of the tropical dome conservatory was roped off.  Piles of bagged topsoil and mulch were splattered with dried mud.  Muddy, dead plants were strewn about.  Part of the outdoor displays were roped off.  How much inventory had they lost?  A heartbreak for an established local business.  I doubt any of it was covered by insurance.  Their employees were working diligently, and they were open for business.  Still lots of inventory available for sale, so don't hesitate to come out and support a local business.

I hope the tropical birds are safe.

No, you won't see any pictures.  I learned from the Flood of 2006 that rubberneckers are not welcome in disaster neighborhoods; we aren't zoo animals to be stared at.  So out of respect, we bought our plants (ignoring the obvious reek of flood-if you have never smelled the reek of flood you are fortunate) and left.

Now back at home, spouse is working in the front yard.  Grateful that the flood wasn't as bad as it could have been.  It brings back too many bad memories.

But the rivers are still running high, and we are supposed to get more rain this week.