When was the last time you stood outside in the rain, lifted your face to the sky and stuck out your tongue to catch a few raindrops?
It’s been a few decades since I’ve crudely constructed a paper or aluminum foil boat to float down the rainwater-filled curb that flowed west toward the grated storm sewer drain along Rose Lane.
My six siblings and I loved playing in the “after rain’”— building temporary driveway rock dams in front of our home and splashing barefooted around the earthworms who sought refuge from the rain-soaked turf. On second thought maybe it was our mom — who sought refuge from being inside the house with seven kids during an endless week of rain — who taught us to love playing outside.
In case you’re rain-weary, remember that weeds can be pulled more easily after a rain than at any other time. According to Fine Gardening Magazine’s “Six Tips for Effective Weed Control,” weeding can be referred to as rewarding: “The old saying, ‘Pull when wet; hoe when dry’ is wise advice when facing down weeds. After a drenching rain, stage a rewarding weeding session by equipping yourself with gloves, a sitting pad, and a trug or tarp for collecting the corpses.”
But just in case the “rewarding” word isn’t luring you out into the wet garden, there are many healthy options:
Plan to avoid weeding No. 1: “Grease” is playing today at 2, 7:30 and 10:30 p.m. at the Historic Artcraft Theatre in Franklin,
Plan to avoid weeding No. 2: That little car race in Indy on Sunday with 300,000 of your closest friends (if it doesn’t get rained out and rescheduled for Monday). Parade festivities today and concerts all weekend long.
Plan to avoid weeding No. 3: The Garfield Park Conservatory, originally designed in 1916, then replaced in 1955 with its current aluminum, welded-framed art-deco design. With a rain forest theme, the conservatory highlights plant species including palms, orchids, ferns, cacao, vanilla, bananas and coffee.
Celebrate Memorial Day: The community is invited to take part in honoring all local military veterans. Services will begin at 9 a.m. at Rock Lane Cemetery followed at 9:30 a.m. by Greenwood Cemetery, 10 a.m. at Mount Pleasant Cemetery, 10:30 a.m. Olive Branch Memorial Garden and 11 a.m. at Forest Lawn Cemetery.
