Summer Rain (gouache style)

Rain shapes British gardens more than almost anything else. The west of the country is generally wetter than the east, and gardeners plant and plan around it. Summer rain brings out colour and scent: greens look greener and roses smell stronger. The earthy smell of rain on dry ground has a name, petrichor, coined by two Australian scientists in 1964. A good soak after a dry spell does more for plants than any watering can.

Catch summer rain where you can. A water butt connected to a downpipe is best fitted in autumn or winter, so it's full by spring, and rainwater suits acid-loving plants such as blueberries better than hard tap water. Mulch borders while the soil is moist to hold the water in. Wet weather brings out slugs and snails, so check young plants in the evening. Stake tall perennials in spring so heavy rain doesn't flatten them, and remove soggy dead flowers to limit grey mould.

A garden border stands in summer rain, its leaves wet and puddles lying on the path. It's a scene most gardeners know well and seldom see painted. Rain darkens the path and makes the foliage shine, and a wet afternoon like this is often the best excuse to stay in and just look.