An Appreciated Summer Storm

It has been very hot over the past few weeks.  The humidity has been high too.  So it shouldn't come as a surprise that we had a thunder storm yesterday afternoon.  I looked out and saw that the winds were starting to pick up and that my patio umbrella was leaning to one side.  I could hear the sound of thunder rumbling in the distance.  I dropped everything and ran outside to take the umbrella down.  Then I gathered up some of the plastic chairs and stacked them so they would not become flying missiles.  It was already starting to rain by then.  Large drops hit the pavement and dried up almost instantly because everything is so hot.  I was soaked by the time I went inside.

It rained for about 2 hours.  We got 88mm of the wet stuff during that time.  I danced around in my living room - we needed that rain so badly.  The leaves on my maple had already started to dry up.  Everything got a good soaking.  It was a much appreciated summer storm.  But it did not leave my garden untouched.  Here is a picture of my Feverfew before the storm.

And this is what it looked like this morning.  Everything is flattened to the ground.  

The storm caused all kinds of destruction around us as well.  In Whitby some people were sitting under a huge tent enjoying a Ribfest.  17 of them were taken to hospital when the tent was hit by lightening and they were injured.  There is a huge sink hole in a local park.  A whole hill came sliding down.  I am sure I will hear of other destruction as the day goes on.  There are lots of branches down in my garden   A couple of squirrels' nests were rained to the ground.  Poor squirrels.  They will have to start over, but I am sure they will be able to rebuild before the weather turns cold.

I will have to go out and clean up this mess.  But that may have to wait until another day.  Today will be another hot one and tomorrow our high temperature is forecast to be 37C.  That's body temperature right?  This summer weather is crazy.