It’s a rainy, rainy day...and week.

They sometimes say, “When it rains, it pours,” and that old adage definitely rings true for a soggy week.

This was a steady rain, the type that just settles in and makes itself comfortable. So we may as well do the same. Wrap up, get cozy, and listen to the percussion of countless drops, the soothing sound of the rain.

It doesn't get much better

I had to put some logs in the fireplace during my stay at Fairy Stone State Park and soak up the warmth of a crackling fire while the rain pitter-pattered against the leaves and puddles outside. It felt good to warm my bones and listen to the rain. I had wanted to explore a lot of the trails, but my body enjoyed the calm tranquility, a peaceful recharge, and now I have a good reason to come back under better hiking conditions. The rain will surely expose many more fairy stones for visitors to hunt for and collect.

The rain is replenishing the land and water tables below. Rivers look like chocolate milk, chock full of sediment from these relentless rains. Some rivers are spilling over their banks, flooding low areas. Some trails have turned into ephemeral streams. And springs that have been dried up for some time are once again flowing.

The creek is nearly overflowing!

The fall colors will be beautiful soon and are just starting in some areas. They may not reach the elongated peak of coloration like last fall, when conditions were ideal, but some of the prettiest times of the year are at our doorstep.

Red maple leaves and many others are beginning to change color

And since many of us have been ‘stuck’ inside from the consistent rain, many of us are itching to get back outside when the Sun and dry weather make an appearance again. How many days has it been since I saw the Sun?

Yellow tulip poplar leaves show signs of Fall

We tend to get lazy and groan at the rain. Having a farmer for a grandfather I learned the rain is a good thing. Being a naturalist I’ve learned and observed the rain benefits many.

First and foremost plants and all animals survive partly because of water. Water is essential for life. Sometimes we get a little rain here or there, sometimes we get dumped on for days (and days), a true gully washer. With nature we don’t always get to pick and choose the interworkings of natural cycles and weather, but we benefit from it all the same in the long run. There is a silver lining to most things, the rain included.

For one thing, salamanders are out and about. These secretive amphibians are more easily spotted after a rain. I stumbled upon a few taking a walk between rain showers.

Salamanders don't mind the rain, and sometimes relish it

Some animals prefer wet conditions

Mushrooms and fungi, besides adorning the forest with a rich and colorful spread, have a much more practical ecosystem service as decomposers, recycling nutrients and providing food and habitat for others. Many more of our fall mushrooms will be bursting on the scene fairly soon after this abundance of moisture. 

Keep an eye out for fall mushrooms popping up

We huddle inside during the rains, but it makes getting outside and exploring all the more enjoyable afterwards. I think I’ll be outside hiking every chance I can get over the next several weeks soaking up the fall colors and watching the leaves transform across our landscape and Commonwealth.

Come visit one of our beautiful Virginia State Parks and take in the seasonal scenery. I’ll be making the most of fall and all it has to offer. Autumn’s booming canvas of countless shades and hues is a short-lived yet wondrous time to get out and enjoy the outside in a climaxing display of colors. After all, “when it rains, it pours.”