March and April here on Waiheke Island, NZ, have been incredibly wet, owing to two ex-tropical cyclones which headed down the east coast of the North Island. Rainfall for the two months, at 439mm, was the highest since 1961. It has made picking the grapes a nightmare - balancing out approaching rain, the risk of disease and the need to get some ripe fruit. In the garden it was a mixed bag. Hibiscus loved it, and are still performing dramatically, and my Acidanthera flowered for the first time. But other plants that dislike wet feet, such as Nepeta and Lychnis coronaria have just turned up their toes, and the weeds have multiplied much faster than I can deal to them. We are now experiencing lovely sunny autumn days, but meanwhile the clean-up of blocked drains, slips and fallen trees, continues.