SINGING in the rain may not be the first thing we gardeners feel like doing every time there is a downpour but water is such a precious resource that we really should be grateful for every drop we get.
While many of us are up to our middle in puddles right now, it is possible that come the summer there may be periods when precipitation is scant and we will be looking to the skies for the next shower, to keep our crops swelling and stop our plants from flopping.
I know last year was different but I think we have to approach the situation taking the view that lightning doesn't strike twice.
Now, then, is the time to put every possible measure in place to catch and store as much rainwater as possible for the season ahead.
The easiest way is to install a pre-formed water butt, the likes of which can be found at any garden centre or DIY store.
They fit below any standard drainpipe, harvesting vast amounts of water from any roof, store water cleanly and safely - look for ones with child-proof lids - and dispense it easily, when needed, from integral taps.
They don't need to be confined to use near a house - in my own garden, I have two 37-gallon butts rigged up to the greenhouse, which, at 12ft x 8ft has a significant roof area - and a neighbour has done something similar to crop water from his shed.
Other options include reusing old dolly tubs, which are a good height for dipping a watering can into without having to bend down.
All other kinds of galvanised tubs, buckets and baths are perfect for catching rain wherever they are left, and provide the ideal place for keeping plants' roots moist whenever stuff is being dug, divided and transplanted.
Recycling such containers can be cost-effective and is more environment-friendly than buying new, making your rainwater collection process doubly sustainable.
Not having lids, though, you do have to think about the safety issue, if there are children around.
It is also helpful to put a thick stick, stones or tiles into any deep, straight-sided container, to give a foothold to any bird or creature who may tumble in.
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