Hi River Roaders,

I don’t know about you, but the thunder and lightning on Tuesday night was some of the more intense I’ve experienced. Judging from erosion and drainage patterns, it was also one of the most intense rain events on our grounds in over two years.

I have such respect for the power of rain and wind. Individual rain drops gather and collectively move large volumes of earth and rock that would be challenging for one person to move. Wind can bend and snap the strongest trees.

I wish we could send the rain and water to California.

Wild ginger in our Memorial Garden.

Patterns of sand and raindrops in our playground.

Eroded sand and bent grasses in Springsview Garden.

The “floodplain” area of Springsview Garden was actually a floodplain this week.

Large rain events clear the leaves from our springs and expose the quartz base.

The rain makes our many different types of fungi want to bloom and produce mushrooms, such as these rounded earthstars (Geastrum saccatum) in the wood chips on our playground.

Eroded edges on what may be eastern American platterful mushrooms (Megacollybia rodmanii) growing in a woodpile under trees. I am not sure what causes the erosion on the edges.

Mushroom growing under the beech tree in our Memorial Garden, possibly a Hygrophorus milkcap (Lactifluus hygrophoroides)

Different unidentified mushrooms in our Memorial Garden.

If you were wondering, the title for this blog comes from the chorus of the song “Galveston Flood”. I saw Tom Rush perform this live in the 80’s and have always been a fan. Check it out.

Enjoy the cool weather for the next week!

Joe