Eight-foot dahlias and giant sprouts

OLD TOM has been shaking his head and telling me for weeks “the weather’s pure unnatural”.

One of his greatest concerns has been the shortage of rain; rivers are low, and there has been some talk about the dire effects of such a low water table on local wells, including mine, although I prefer to believe haven't I told you I'm an optimist? that there is an unfailing supply, more than 120 feet down there.

And my optimism was rewarded immediately with a night of torrential rain, but it appears that once the rain starts it forgets to stop.