Lost in the Rain

wandering through the rain-soaked spring forest

Raindrops patter gently on the roof. From my window, I watch ripples appear on the surface of our backyard pond; each drop a perfect circle, one after the other. I think to myself how nice it would be to hear it drip through the foliage of the forest and to smell the petrichor rise from the earth.

And my mind is made up.

I gather my things: my backpack, camera, hat, rain jacket. I dress in my waterproof pants and lace up my hiking boots. I hop in the truck to drive to a favoured spot nearby, and when I arrive, I am immediately smiling softly to myself.

It is perfect.

I set off down the trail, silently hoping the mosquitoes have not gotten too horrendous yet, they love a wet forest as much as I do. For now, I hear only a couple of whines in my ear. Soon, even that fades away, and all I hear is rain.

Rain and birdsong.

The forest has exploded into a lush and beautiful mess of grasses, wildflowers, shrubs and trees since I last visited this spot. And everything is green. So heart-stoppingly green.

The trail beneath my feet is skinnier now than it was; foliage and flowers slowly lean in, slowly reclaim the open space. Branches quietly brush my shoulders as I pass, grasses sway and reach for my feet.

It rains harder now. I am quickly becoming soaked through; my rain jacket is old and no longer truly waterproof, though it is better than nothing. A few raindrops sneak down the back of my neck, eliciting a shiver at the sudden cold against my skin.

I try to keep my camera dry at the very least. I cannot bear to put it away to protect it when everything looks like this. And so it tucks inside my rain jacket as I walk, my other arm resting atop it, and it remains safe and working.

I wander through the wildflowers as they drink up the rain. Predominantly soft whites and yellows catch my eye, embedded in the sea of greens—stars, feathers and soft fronds, tall, ground lovers, and tiny treasures.

Back home, changed and dry once again, I set my gear out to dry as I flick through the moments captured, the riches discovered, and yes, scratching at a few mosquito bites I collected along the way.

See you next time,

♡ Whitney

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Do you want to immerse yourself in the sounds of the rain and songs of the birds? Enjoy this wander in video format on my YouTube channel.

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