Beautiful, Beautiful Rain

July24

I’m sitting here by my office window drinking in the smells and sounds of the first rain in several weeks.

I remember learning the word petrichor several years ago. It’s said to be the only English noun that means a specific scent: that distinctively pleasant fragrance of rain falling on dry ground after a long, dry spell. This gorgeous word was coined by two Australian geologists, I. J. Bear and R. G. Thomas, in a 1964 article that appeared in the journal Nature.

Whatever it’s called, I’m loving it!

Rain 24Jul12

And the cat seems to be enjoying it too!

posted under Friday Afternoon Views from My Office, Grace in Small Things, Things of Beauty

12 Comments to

“Beautiful, Beautiful Rain”

On July 24th, 2012 at 5:54 pm Bonnie Says:
I’m totally adding this word to my vocabulary!
On July 25th, 2012 at 4:01 pm Debbie Says:
I know, Bonnie…it’s just perfect. 🙂
On July 24th, 2012 at 7:47 pm Leslie Says:
I like the word and the rain. We finally got rain a few days ago and last night too. Unfortunately after a month of no rain all my plants are stressed and the hosta look dead, but maybe some of them will revive.
On July 25th, 2012 at 4:01 pm Debbie Says:
Leslie, I’m not sure we got enough to revive things, either. More forecast for Friday – but who knows?
On July 25th, 2012 at 11:43 am Barbara Says:
I love the word petrichor. Thank you for teaching it to us. I know exactly what it means too. We’ve recently had much needed rain and I can even see the grass showing signs of green. If this keeps up, we may actually need to mow the yard. Wouldn’t that be lovely?
On July 25th, 2012 at 4:03 pm Debbie Says:
Barbara, it’s been a bad year for our riding mower, but it hasn’t really mattered. I’m hoping to never complain about having to cut the grass ever again!
On July 25th, 2012 at 12:00 pm Vasilly Says:
What a pretty cat! I didn’t know that scent has a name! I love that. It makes the world seems so alive and new. 🙂
On July 25th, 2012 at 4:04 pm Debbie Says:
Thanks, Vasilly. He’s so pink & white, it’s sometimes hard to believe he’s a boy. His brother (we had to have him put down 2 years ago because of kidney failure) looked just like him.
On July 25th, 2012 at 3:56 pm Jenners Says:
I know that smell!! And I love that there is a word for it. But I would expect it to sound a little different than “petrichor.”
On July 27th, 2012 at 3:22 pm Debbie Says:
I know, Mrs. J – but it’s from Greek for ‘stone’ and ichor which is “the fluid that flows in the veins of the gods in Greek mythology.” So it’s technically correct – and after all, it was scientists who named it.

NOW if we word lovers had the chance – well, let’s see what we can come up with! 🙂
On August 3rd, 2012 at 12:09 pm Lilac Says:
I love that word, I wonder how on earth you found it..
On August 3rd, 2012 at 12:51 pm Debbie Says:
I don’t remember at all where I found this word, Lilac. (Sorry!)